US Voter Registration Reminder

[GinBoy2]

Gentlemen, as I sit here in a beautiful morning in the Black Hills of South Dakota about to renew my driver license, voter registration is also on my mind.

Deadlines are coming and going, so make sure you are aware of your home State's voter registration deadlines if you intend to vote this year.

I fear that every vote is going to count this year, so regardless of who you intend to vote for, make sure your vote counts!

[GinBoy2]

As a follow up, make sure you follow the federal voter guidelines applicable to your State.

You may loath Hillary, you may despise Trump, but if you don't vote, don't complain!

https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter

[ubonjoe]

I did it earlier today. Easy done. Good step by step institutions.

When done filling in the info downloaded the completed form with instructions. Printed 2 forms, signed and dated both. scanned, attached PDF file to the provided email address for the registrar for the country I was registering at.

Now will wait for the results and a ballot by email.

There is info on the embassy website about sending the ballots back. http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/services/visa/acs/voting.html

[ubonjoe]

A continuation of my previous post.

Reading the webpage on the embassy it states you can drop the ballot envelopes at the embassy. I thought then what about those that live outside Bangkok like me so sent an email to the address shown on the page this morning asking about mailing the envelopes to them,.

I received the following reply that as you will see is a positive answer.

Dear Mr.xxxx,

Thank you for contacting us and for your interest in voting. Yes, you may send voting documents to the embassy to be forwarded to the United States. Please place your voting documents in an envelope with correct U.S. address and U.S. postage (or postage-paid label). Place this envelope inside another envelope and mail it to the below address via Thai Post or a mailing service such as FedEx or DHL:

U.S. Embassy

American Citizen Services

Attn: Voting Assistance Officer

95 Wireless Road

Bangkok 10330

When we receive your package, we will retrieve the envelope containing your voting documents and forward them to the U.S. via the embassy APO.

Best Regards,

American Citizen Services

U.S. Embassy, Bangkok

I downloaded an envelope with prepaid postage yesterday when I finished the application that has the registrars address and my return address on it. So plan on sending the ballot to the embassy by registered mail (19 baht) in the envelope with the ballot inside another envelope.

This will also be good for those who don't want to send the application by email or if their state does not allow it.

Notice: I am pinning this topic since it has important info in it. No political posts are allowed. Those and other off topic posts will be removed without notice.

[GinBoy2]

I hope that as Americans we all recognize the importance of voting.

We may live overseas but the essence of the Republic is that the people exercise their right to vote. Hate, loath the outcome, that's democracy.

We live here in Thailand and can witness first hand what happens to a nation without a robust democratic system, military coup after military coup.

So, spend 30 minutes of your day, it's not hard, and get it done

[IMA_FARANG]

As a follow up, make sure you follow the federal voter guidelines applicable to your State.

You may loath Hillary, you may despise Trump, but if you don't vote, don't complain!

https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter

-----------------------------

As George Carlin once pointed out.....if you did NOT vote for any candidate....then you have the right to say, "Well, don't blame me for what happens because I never voted for that fool".

Only if you DO vote in a pre-rigged election (as they all are in the U.S.), then whatever happens is at least partially YOUR fault.

By letting it be known that ALL politicians are crooks, and therefore you don't vote for ANY of them can you maintain your integrity after the election.

I don't expect you to understand this, but at least think about it.

[GinBoy2]

That is a totally facile comment which actually doesn't really warrant comment, but what the heck.

So your answer would be to do what? Nothing?

[phuketsub]

Does anyone know if it is not too late for a Massachusetts resident?

I haven't lived there for 40 years and I have never voted in my life, but the prospect of a Trump presidency is so troubling that I feel the need to 'cover the base'.

The problem is that I don't know if my state will 'recognize' me anymore since I haven't lived there, don't have an official address, etc...

[ubonjoe]

Does anyone know if it is not too late for a Massachusetts resident?

I haven't lived there for 40 years and I have never voted in my life, but the prospect of a Trump presidency is so troubling that I feel the need to 'cover the base'.

The problem is that I don't know if my state will 'recognize' me anymore since I haven't lived there, don't have an official address, etc...

It is not to late to try and get the ballot according to the page for Massachusetts. https://www.fvap.gov/massachusetts

You can use any address as far I as I know. I used a friends when I did the registration for my state.

[phuketsub]

Does anyone know if it is not too late for a Massachusetts resident?

I haven't lived there for 40 years and I have never voted in my life, but the prospect of a Trump presidency is so troubling that I feel the need to 'cover the base'.

The problem is that I don't know if my state will 'recognize' me anymore since I haven't lived there, don't have an official address, etc...

It is not to late to try and get the ballot according to the page for Massachusetts. https://www.fvap.gov/massachusetts

You can use any address as far I as I know. I used a friends when I did the registration for my state.

You are always so helpful. Looking into it now. I guess I will just use my parents' address. Pretty lame for a 53-year-old.

[ubonjoe]

On 5/16/2016 at 4:36 PM, ubonjoe said:

Notice: I am pinning this topic since it has important info in it. No political posts are allowed. Those and other off topic posts will be removed without notice.

A reminder after removing a off topic post.

Rants about your opinion of US elections can be done in a new topic.

[GinBoy2]

Well Folks, I guess it's the start of showtime. I received in my email inbox this morning my absentee ballot for the General.

 

All neatly filled out, mailing label printed and everything stuck in an envelope.

 

I am this time however going use the great info that ubonjoe provided and send it via the Embassy APO

[GinBoy2]

I may sound like a broken record here, but please do your civic duty. People have fought and died to protect the Republic, take the little time it takes and Vote.

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/voting/

[ubonjoe]

If you have sent in a registration and have not received a ballot I suggest you check your state voting site to be sure it was processed. You can find your states website on this site posted earlier. https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter

I checked on the Texas site last week and it showed I was not registered yet. Recent the email I sent back in May to the county registrar. It seems my registration had fallen through the cracks somewhere.

Checked yesterday and it showed the registration was done. Then got an email last night with the ballot, envelope and etc attached.

Will be sending it to the embassy today.

[GinBoy2]

Most States have a voter portal which will let you check your registration, and the receipt of your ballot, as an example here's mine...

 

 

Edited October 5, 2016 by GinBoy2

[DSJPC]

good reminder!...I voted already by absentee ballot last week...

[realenglish1]

I have already sent my absentee ballad in . <removed>

 

Edited October 7, 2016 by ubonjoe
Political comment removed see post #4

[nitehawk42]

Democrats Abroad Thailand will host a presidential debate watching party Monday 10 October at Roadside BBQ restaurant in Bangkok at 7pm. Absentee voter registration will also be available.  

Here's how to request your ballot in 3 easy steps: 1. Go to www.votefromabroad.org and follow the prompts. 2. Print out and sign the form. 3. Return the form to your local election official by mail, email or fax, using information from the website.

[GinBoy2]

This is a guide for anyone planning to use the Embassy APO, since time is always an issue if you plan to cut it fine.

 

My ballot was received by the Embassy 9/29, and checking this morning was received by the county auditor in Rapid City 10/7.

 

So allow 'at least' 10 days from receipt at the embassy for delivery in the US

[ubonjoe]

Two post removed for being political. Read the warning I posted earlier.

On 5/16/2016 at 4:36 PM, ubonjoe said:

Notice: I am pinning this topic since it has important info in it. No political posts are allowed. Those and other off topic posts will be removed without notice.

 

[seedy]

Flaming post Removed. Keep the Personal Attacks off this Forum

[steve2112]

On 10/8/2016 at 6:13 AM, GinBoy2 said:

This is a guide for anyone planning to use the Embassy APO, since time is always an issue if you plan to cut it fine.

 

My ballot was received by the Embassy 9/29, and checking this morning was received by the county auditor in Rapid City 10/7.

 

So allow 'at least' 10 days from receipt at the embassy for delivery in the US

 

good to know, i'm in phuket so i guess i'll just mail it in, but i only just applied for the ballot yesterday so i'm a bit worried about the timing.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, steve2112 said:

good to know, i'm in phuket so i guess i'll just mail it in, but i only just applied for the ballot yesterday so i'm a bit worried about the timing.

It all depends upon what state your register and vote in.

Some will accept the ballot up to a week after November 8th. For example for Texas it is 5 days and for applying for a ballot it is October 28th.

I think sending your ballot by EMS to the embassy might well be the fasted way to get it there without paying 1400 baht for a EMS to the states. I have had some EMS's to the states take a week to get there.

I assume my ballot is still in transit since it was probably put in the mail by the embassy on Monday of this week.

[ubonjoe]

Update

Ballot received in Texas yesterday. So about a week from when I think the embassy put it in the mail.

[GinBoy2]

Well Gentlemen it's over,

 

For better or worse you cast your ballot and participated in the system.

 

The tragedy is that 18M fewer of our fellow Americans decided NOT to vote than in 2012.

 

It would be an interesting survey to ask all of those out on the streets protesting Trump....did you actually vote?

 

Depressingly I think I already know the answer

 

That all being said, the beauty of a 'real' democracy is that we get to do it all again in 4 years ( don't forget the midterms).

 

So all the previous posts apply, make sure you stay registered to vote

Edited November 15, 2016 by GinBoy2