Absentee ballot, US election

[heybruce]

It's two weeks until the election, the last day recommended for mailing an absentee ballot, and mine hasn't arrived.

 

This is the second time in a row, in both 2014 and 2016 I received my ballot for voting in the primaries several weeks before the primary election, but have not received my ballot to vote in the November election.  I contacted the appropriate voting office and was told the absentee ballot was mailed on September 15, which allowed plenty of time.  My mother, who lives only a few miles from this office, mailed me a letter on September 29 and it arrived in two weeks.

 

Fortunately I have the option of printing a .pdf file of the ballot and faxing my vote in (and hoping it doesn't disappear as well).  However I am curious--is the problem with the mail or the Office of Elections?  Has anyone else from the US not received their absentee ballot?  Specifically, has anyone from Florida not received their absentee ballot? 

 

I find the circumstances of the missing absentee ballots suspicious, I'd like to know if it's just my bad luck or a common problem.

Edited October 25, 2016 by heybruce
grammar correction

[heybruce]

The fact that the office of the Supervisor of Elections managed to get my ballot to me for the primaries shows it is capable of mailing absentee ballots.  However for two elections in a row I have not received the absentee ballots for the November election.  I am curious if anyone else is in a similar situation.

 

<deleted political comments>

Edited October 26, 2016 by ubonjoe
Pleas don't bring politics into the topic.

[NancyL]

fvap.gov has all the info you need to get your ballot

 

You can call or email your supervisor of elections, you know, too.  

 

I've developed quite an email relationship with our Michigan township clerk about this issue.  She pulls stunts like mailing ballots to us here in Thailand with domestic U.S. postage and the local postal code of 50300 prominently displayed -- guaranteed to totally confuse the USPS.

 

I don't think her actions are an effort to disenfranchise us, but rather simple stupidity.  Once we made ourselves known a few years ago -- that we had the right to continue to vote in her township even though we'd sold our property and moved to Thailand (not Taiwan as she said, the first time I called her) she's paid more attention.  

[mesquite]

58 minutes ago, NancyL said:

fvap.gov has all the info you need to get your ballot

 

You can call or email your supervisor of elections, you know, too.  

 

I've developed quite an email relationship with our Michigan township clerk about this issue.  She pulls stunts like mailing ballots to us here in Thailand with domestic U.S. postage and the local postal code of 50300 prominently displayed -- guaranteed to totally confuse the USPS.

 

I don't think her actions are an effort to disenfranchise us, but rather simple stupidity.  Once we made ourselves known a few years ago -- that we had the right to continue to vote in her township even though we'd sold our property and moved to Thailand (not Taiwan as she said, the first time I called her) she's paid more attention.  

She is doing it correctly.

 

Of course she would use US postage.  She is mailing it from the US.

 

Of course she would use 50300 because that is your postal code.  It should be quite clear to USPS as long as she has the country as Thailand.

 

OR, are you saying she puts the domestic postage and 50300 on the return envelope?

 

 

Edited October 26, 2016 by mesquite

[NancyL]

OK, let me be clear.  She didn't put ENOUGH postage on the envelope to get it out to Thailand!  And it was routed to somewhere in Iowa before it was directed to Thailand.  

 

She should have know if you're mailing an envelope to Thailand, you have to use more postage than if you're mailing it domestically and the last line of the mailing address should say THAILAND not 50300

 

It's a miracle that ballot reached me here.

[ubonjoe]

I have removed some posts bringing politics into the discussion. If you want to discuss politics please do it in one of the many topics on the world news forum.

 

Did my registration/ballot request online and sent it to the county registrars office by email. Got my ballot by email, marked it and sent it inside of a postage paid envelope inside an envelope I sent by EMS to the embassy. Took a week for the registrar to get it from the date I think the embassy sent it.

[mesquite]

18 minutes ago, NancyL said:

OK, let me be clear.  She didn't put ENOUGH postage on the envelope to get it out to Thailand!  And it was routed to somewhere in Iowa before it was directed to Thailand.  

 

She should have know if you're mailing an envelope to Thailand, you have to use more postage than if you're mailing it domestically and the last line of the mailing address should say THAILAND not 50300

 

It's a miracle that ballot reached me here.

Yes.  Here is an example from the USPS website.  She should have known, but I still see examples of people being unable to comprehend a US citizen living outside the US.  (One person even asked me if I would have to give up my US citizenship if I moved to Thailand).

 

MS CRISTINA CRUZ
APARTADO 3068
46807 PUERTO VALLARTA JALISCO
MEXICO

[heybruce]

10 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I have removed some posts bringing politics into the discussion. If you want to discuss politics please do it in one of the many topics on the world news forum.

 

Did my registration/ballot request online and sent it to the county registrars office by email. Got my ballot by email, marked it and sent it inside of a postage paid envelope inside an envelope I sent by EMS to the embassy. Took a week for the registrar to get it from the date I think the embassy sent it.

Thank you, that's the kind of information I'm hoping for.

 

For some people in Thailand the process is working as it should--they register to vote, request an absentee ballot and receive this ballot in a reasonable time.

 

In my case I've registered to vote, applied for an absentee ballot, received the ballot for the primary (party) elections in a reasonable time, but did not received the ballot for the November national elections in 2014 or 2016.  I have contacted of office of the Supervisor of Elections and was assured the absentee ballot was mailed on September 15 (to the same address that the primary ballot was sent to), yet it has not arrived.  Mail sent two weeks later from the same city arrived in about two weeks.

 

DELETED

Edited October 26, 2016 by seedy
OFF TOPIC

[ubonjoe]

I only registered to vote in federal elections so my ballot only had the presidential and the representative for the district where I am registered. Plus I marked as not having any intention to return.

If you had done the registration through the federal website  https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter  you could track your registration and ballot by checking on the Florida website http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/ . Just looked and it appears you can track your ballot status here. http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/check-your-voter-status-and-polling-place/

You can find some info on this pinned topic in some of my posts there.

 

[heybruce]

43 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I only registered to vote in federal elections so my ballot only had the presidential and the representative for the district where I am registered. Plus I marked as not having any intention to return.

If you had done the registration through the federal website  https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter  you could track your registration and ballot by checking on the Florida website http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/ . Just looked and it appears you can track your ballot status here. http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/check-your-voter-status-and-polling-place/

You can find some info on this pinned topic in some of my posts there.

 

Thank you, but the website tells me what I already know--I am properly registered to vote, the Supervisor of Elections has the correct mailing address for me (and all mail sent from that office has arrived except the absentee ballot for the national election) and the ballot was mailed.

 

It does not tell me why I have not received the absentee ballot mailed almost six weeks ago.  All other mail sent for that office and by others to my address arrives in a timely manner.

 

I'd still like to know if other Floridians are experiencing something similar.

[Sheryl]

I also did not get mine, and also registered in Florida.

 

However my ballots for the primaries, and all prior ballots, all arrived way late too , this is par for the course for me. I also find, in general, that 10-15% of my mail gets lost no matter where from. 

 

I contacted my County Supervisor of Elections by email and they informed me it had been mailed, I forgot the date they said but believable given how long it takes snail mail to get to me. They also offered to send it to my by email, which I then requested. Got the ballot from them by email, printed it out, sent back through the US Embassy. Next week I will email to confirm it was received....taking no chances.

[heybruce]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I also did not get mine, and also registered in Florida.

 

However my ballots for the primaries, and all prior ballots, all arrived way late too , this is par for the course for me. I also find, in general, that 10-15% of my mail gets lost no matter where from. 

 

I contacted my County Supervisor of Elections by email and they informed me it had been mailed, I forgot the date they said but believable given how long it takes snail mail to get to me. They also offered to send it to my by email, which I then requested. Got the ballot from them by email, printed it out, sent back through the US Embassy. Next week I will email to confirm it was received....taking no chances.

Thanks for the info.  I will have to fax in my vote.

 

I know that mail from Florida to Thailand is unpredictable, but I find it peculiar that all mail addressed to me sent by the Supervisor of Elections arrives in a timely manner except the absentee ballots for the last two national elections.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I also did not get mine, and also registered in Florida.

 

However my ballots for the primaries, and all prior ballots, all arrived way late too , this is par for the course for me. I also find, in general, that 10-15% of my mail gets lost no matter where from. 

 

I contacted my County Supervisor of Elections by email and they informed me it had been mailed, I forgot the date they said but believable given how long it takes snail mail to get to me. They also offered to send it to my by email, which I then requested. Got the ballot from them by email, printed it out, sent back through the US Embassy. Next week I will email to confirm it was received....taking no chances.

You should be able to check the Florida website I posted a link for to find out if it was received.

I used the Texas website and it shows the date my registration/ ballot request was received, ballot being sent and when ballot was received.

[MrBrad]

My ballot was received via Hotmail as a pdf file from Minnesota.  I printed out the form and the envelope templates.  I voted, completed the instructions for constructing the properly addressed, no postage required envelope, and hand-delivered my ballot to the US Consulate here in Chiang Mai.  No additional postage was needed; the guard at the consulate accepted my letter without any questions.

 

Now, some weeks later, having checked the proper government website, I see that my ballot "has been received and will be counted."

[heybruce]

1 hour ago, MrBrad said:

My ballot was received via Hotmail as a pdf file from Minnesota.  I printed out the form and the envelope templates.  I voted, completed the instructions for constructing the properly addressed, no postage required envelope, and hand-delivered my ballot to the US Consulate here in Chiang Mai.  No additional postage was needed; the guard at the consulate accepted my letter without any questions.

 

Now, some weeks later, having checked the proper government website, I see that my ballot "has been received and will be counted."

I'm glad Minnesota did its part for you.  My ballot wasn't mailed (according to the Supervisor of Elections) until September 15 and it still hasn't arrived.  The Consulate in Chiang Mai closed on September 12 for renovations and won't re-open until November 1.  Obviously that's too late to mail a ballot.

 

Do you know a reliable fax service in Chiang Mai?

[mesquite]

5 hours ago, heybruce said:

I'm glad Minnesota did its part for you.  My ballot wasn't mailed (according to the Supervisor of Elections) until September 15 and it still hasn't arrived.  The Consulate in Chiang Mai closed on September 12 for renovations and won't re-open until November 1.  Obviously that's too late to mail a ballot.

 

Do you know a reliable fax service in Chiang Mai?

Any hotel will fax your ballot for a fee and it should get there safe and sound.  I have faxed one page documents to the US for 40-100 THB.  This year I paid about 1000 THB to send it DHL to ensure safe arrival as faxing was not an option for me.   

 

BTW, Even though it has been closed, the CM consulate has been accepting ballots for mailing.  https://th.usembassy.gov/message-u-s-citizens-chiang-mai-consular-section-renovation-visa-services-non-emergency-u-s-citizen-services-suspended-september-12-t/

 

"The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will remain available by email and phone for emergency U.S. citizen services such as death and welfare/whereabouts cases; and we will continue to accept voter registration, absentee ballot requests, and absentee ballots. "

 

Edited October 26, 2016 by mesquite

[Sheryl]

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You should be able to check the Florida website I posted a link for to find out if it was received.

I used the Texas website and it shows the date my registration/ ballot request was received, ballot being sent and when ballot was received.

 

Actually the Florida website seems only to record the date the absentee ballot was sent, not whether returned ballot was received

[heybruce]

11 hours ago, mesquite said:

Any hotel will fax your ballot for a fee and it should get there safe and sound.  I have faxed one page documents to the US for 40-100 THB.  This year I paid about 1000 THB to send it DHL to ensure safe arrival as faxing was not an option for me.   

 

BTW, Even though it has been closed, the CM consulate has been accepting ballots for mailing.  https://th.usembassy.gov/message-u-s-citizens-chiang-mai-consular-section-renovation-visa-services-non-emergency-u-s-citizen-services-suspended-september-12-t/

 

"The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will remain available by email and phone for emergency U.S. citizen services such as death and welfare/whereabouts cases; and we will continue to accept voter registration, absentee ballot requests, and absentee ballots. "

 

With less than two weeks until the election I advise anyone considering using snail mail to vote to check their states voting rules and procedures.  Some states may accept late arriving absentee ballots, but I don't know which ones.

[GinBoy2]

Aside from the registration issues, I'm giving a thumbs up for sending a completed ballot via the Embassy APO as the most secure way to mail a ballot.

 

I sent mine to the embassy in Bangkok via EMS, received 9/29, received in Rapid City, South Dakota 10/7

[Suradit69]

Quote

It's two weeks until the election, the last day recommended for mailing an absentee ballot, and mine hasn't arrived.

 

I'm registered too (Cook County Illinois) and have received ballots before ... by email attachment. Haven't received anything this time.

[Sheryl]

It's two weeks until the election, the last day recommended for mailing an absentee ballot, and mine hasn't arrived.

 
I'm registered too (Cook County Illinois) and have received ballots before ... by email attachment. Haven't received anything this time.


Email them and ask for it by email. If that fails use the fvap site to get a ballot. Quickly!

Many states will let you fax your ballot in.

[Sheryl]

I also did not get mine, and also registered in Florida.
 
However my ballots for the primaries, and all prior ballots, all arrived way late too , this is par for the course for me. I also find, in general, that 10-15% of my mail gets lost no matter where from. 
 
I contacted my County Supervisor of Elections by email and they informed me it had been mailed, I forgot the date they said but believable given how long it takes snail mail to get to me. They also offered to send it to my by email, which I then requested. Got the ballot from them by email, printed it out, sent back through the US Embassy. Next week I will email to confirm it was received....taking no chances.

Didn't have to rmail them, they emailed me confirmation that it arrived. Took about 10 days through the Embassy. My understanding is that sent through Embassy a US post mark is applied at this end so even if it reaches US after the 8th should still be ok

[Mr0Yallow]

I am a registered voter from OC Calif. I would not consider asking the US Consulate in BKK for the time of day. I find them to be unhelpful at the least. I called my registrar of voters and discovered I can vote by e-mail/fax. there were 3 forms I needed to sign then scan & fax back to them, An envelope, a signed agreement, and the sample ballot which is used to replace the regular ballot. I voted in the primary with no problems and I will vote in the regular election as long as I send the fax before the election.

[Mr0Yallow]

On 10/27/2016 at 4:34 AM, mesquite said:

Any hotel will fax your ballot for a fee and it should get there safe and sound.  I have faxed one page documents to the US for 40-100 THB.  This year I paid about 1000 THB to send it DHL to ensure safe arrival as faxing was not an option for me.   

 

BTW, Even though it has been closed, the CM consulate has been accepting ballots for mailing.  https://th.usembassy.gov/message-u-s-citizens-chiang-mai-consular-section-renovation-visa-services-non-emergency-u-s-citizen-services-suspended-september-12-t/

 

"The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit will remain available by email and phone for emergency U.S. citizen services such as death and welfare/whereabouts cases; and we will continue to accept voter registration, absentee ballot requests, and absentee ballots. "

 

There are a number of internet fax services available I use Metrofax https://www.metrofax.com/

They have a 30 day free trial but you must call to cancel within 29 days.