2008
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL SITE - JUST A CITIZEN SHARIN' MY PERCEPTION OF THE INFO I HAVE JUST GATHERED (which at times has had 1-4 Different versions from the same agency!):
U.S. Citizen? Want to vote for this VERY IMPORTANT upcoming election? Didn't receive your Absentee Ballot yet? Or have it but don't know what to do with it? You have options!!
I AM NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE ABSENTEE and GET HOW IMPORTANT THIS ELECTION IS!!! WHAT CAN I DO?
Most states require you to register to vote at least 30 days before an election so it MAY be too late for you to register. To find out if you've missed the deadline to apply, check out the requirements from the LAST state you lived in at: http://fvap.gov/overseas-citizens/request-registration-absentee-ballot/index.html
Every day I'm learning more and more! Like today I learned that 6 states have "Election Day Registration" meaning you don't have to pre-register - Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
I also just learned that when you're in the states - thanx to the "Motor Voter Act" Clinton signed in in '93 - providing uniform registration services through any drivers' license registration centers, disability centers, schools, libraries, and mail-in registration (I've often done it at post offices who usually have the forms [based on my experience] and take it of course).
Now, with that info, if you've missed your deadline, you can be your average Sheeple and accept what you've been told and beat yourself up for life if your candidate didn't win and the country went even MORE to hell in a hand-basket - because YOU didn't vote (of course, thanx to the Electoral College - do you REALLY have a "democracy" with an Electoral College that does NOT give you "one person - one vote"? But I gotta live with MY conscious and at least TRY!!) - OR - maybe they'll see my app came from a different country and they'll take pity and input me anyways! Hey - it can't hurt to at least TRY. Maybe it will come through ok - maybe not, but at least you will have TRIED.
I HAVE REGISTERED IN THE PAST AS AN OVERSEES / ABSENTEE VOTER. DO I NEED TO REGISTER AGAIN TO VOTE THIS TIME?
I have heard a few different stories on this from a few different "reliable sources" so do what ya want with it. I've heard that filling out the form as an Oversees Voter is like doing a change of address as THIS is my home (for now)!! I applied at the Primary Election and voted lying in a bed in the hotel room Democrats Abroad used for voting (my friend voted sitting on the toilet!! I wish we had a pic of that!! Now THAT's devoted!!!).
I've heard that some states purge their records so to be safe (ESPECIALLY in this CRUCIAL election!!!), you might want to contact the Registrar of Voters in the county you last voted in.
With that said, I STILL haven't received my Absentee Ballot, THOUGH, they HAVE found me to send all that junk mail solicitation from the various politicians (the ones that KILL TREES!! I wish they had a box that we could check off that said "Do NOT send me any of your tree killing/hate Mother Nature propiganda!!" [I know I said I'd cut back on TWAV but I HAD to get this off my chest!!])!!
For me (that's ALL I can "advise" for), I still haven't received my Absentee Ballot from my state though I voted absentee in the primary and I didn't do the new form for this election (I missed the deadline before learning about the potential for purging) - I'm just going to trust all will be ok and vote!
I RECEIVED ALL MY PAPERWORK BUT I LIVE IN COSTA RICA and DON'T WANT TO MAIL IT FROM SNAIL MAIL FROM HERE. WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
You can drop it off at the:
• U.S. Embassy in Pavas - Mon.-Fri. from 8-11:30am at the Consular's Section - American Citizen's Services Counter (2-519-2000).
Make sure to bring your Passport to get in along with your COMPLETED ballot! When you get there, if you see a LONG line of Latin's, they're there trying to get visas to visit the states and such so just walk past them to the front door. Note you MUST leave your cell phone/all electronic devices at the front entrance!
IMPORTANT!!! I spoke to the head of ACS today, Oct. 10 and she shared the VERY unfortunate news that as of TODAY, they ONLY have a FEW Emergency Write-In Ballots left!!! (they [not the Embassy as our government actually CHARGES to U.S. Embassy in CR for ALL the voting materials!! It comes out of their budget!!] REALLY don't want us to vote do they??? I also heard from other sources that MANY states are having a hard time keeping up with the printing as SOOOO MANY people are FINALLY registering to vote [it's about time!!!])!
NOTE: You can NOT go into any booth and vote here! You ONLY go to DROP OFF your ballot!! They can NOT advise you if you're registered! They can NOT guarantee your ballot will be accepted!!!!! They DO have a copy of the Voter's Guide that you can LOOK at (if you don't like/have access to the internet).
• Many of the mail delivery services are offering FREE drop-off/delivery service including: http://MailboxesEtc.co.cr - Escazu, Santa Ana/Forum, Curridabat and Playa Langosta) (Neal ships them out once they get at least 10 or so together and Neal said that if you don't have the "official" envelope, not to worry about the postage - Mailboxes, etc. will pay for it [now that's mighty civic of them!!!])
http://AeroCasillas.com
http://DHL.com
(I've heard that FedEx may send them out bulk, not stamping them properly which to me is CRUCIAL)
Do you know of any others to add to this list?
• SAT. OCT. 25 - 9:30am-12:30pm - Democrats Abroad's Monthly Meeting at the Holiday Inn-Aurola in Downtown San Jose, 3rd floor meeting rooms. Of course there will be political discussions plus ya'll will get to discuss what you'd like to see from Democrats Abroad in the future and discuss the upcoming board elections.
LOCATION: Calle 5 and Avenida 5, on the north side of Morzan Park (need more directions? Call 2-523-1000)
CONTACT: DACR Chairman Paul Kloes at cr.DemocratsAbroad@yahoo.com or call him at 2-215-4254
• DAILY 8am-8pm - Democrats Abroad member Vicki's home in Escazu - ultra-conveniently located ON Calle Vieja near Calle Country Club - on the Santa Ana-Calle Vieja bus route that comes from the Coca-Cola Building in San Jose. You MUST have it to her at the LATEST, BY 8am on Mon. Oct. 27. Paul Kloes picks them up here twice a week and delivers them to the Embassy. Contact Vicki at 8-378-6679 / SarongGoddess@gmail.com for directions.
I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING IN THE MAIL YET BUT I REALLY WANT TO VOTE. WHAT DO I DO?
IMMEDIATELY go to https://VoteFromAbroad.org/regwizard.php (I've heard more people preferring this one) or http://fvap.gov/overseas-citizens/index.html to DOWNLOAD the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) / the "Official Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot".
CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO THIS PROPERLY (some people have had some confusion so I welcome you to follow it step-by-step):
This write-in ballot, or FWAB, is your ticket to voting despite delays over which you have no control. Wondering where your ballot is? Think about how good or bad the mails are where you live. If you have any doubt about whether your state-issued ballot would reach your local voting official back in the U.S. if you wait another day, wait no longer. Thank Dave Froelich (former chair of Democrats Abroad-Israel and activist extraordinaire) and use the FWAB!
Using the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot
The FWAB is a back-up ballot that you can vote TODAY. If you subsequently receive your state ballot, vote that, too. The FWAB is only counted if your state ballot is not received by your state by the ballot return deadline.
1. Get the FWAB: Go to http://VoteFromAbroad.org. Simply answer the 6 screens of questions and download and print the 9 page document. You will receive (1) Instructions (where you will find the address to send the FWAB), (2) Electronic Transmission Sheet and Federal Postcard Application (which you do NOT need); (3) The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, which includes a Voter's Declaration/Affirmation, the Ballot and Instructions.
2. Sign and Date the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation: When you use http://VoteFromAbroad.org, the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation will be filled in based upon your voting state's requirements and the information you provided. You just need to review the information, sign and date it. Check the following list to see if you need a witness or additional documentation.
* Alabama: 2 witnesses OR Notary (must be over the age of 18)
* Alaska: 1 witness (dated and signed)
* Arizona: Proof of Citizenship (copy of passport or birth certificate)
* Louisiana: 2 witnesses (sign on voter's declaration form)
* Minnesota: Self Certification by putting passport number or last 4 digits of SSN on ballot return envelope
* North Carolina: 2 witnesses (must be over 18 sign and include address)
* South Carolina: 1 witness (sign on the voter's declaration form)
* Virginia: 1 witness (sign on the voter's declaration form)
* Wisconsin: 1 witness (both voter and witness must sign security envelope; witness must be a U.S. Citizen, over 18)
3. Vote the FWAB: You can either write in the candidate's name or the word Democrat or Republican. (It is unlikely that you will need the second page of the ballot). To find out who the candidates are for House and Senate, please click here. To find your Congressional District, click here, enter your voting zip code, and then click on "current election."
4. Seal the Ballot Envelope: Put your voted FWAB ONLY in a plain white envelope and seal it. Write on the outside of the envelope "Security Envelope."
5. In the Mailing Envelope: Put the sealed "Security Envelope" and the Signed and Dated Voter's Declaration/Affirmation in a mailing envelope.
6. Enter Return Address: Write your name and current mailing address in the upper left hand corner of the mailing envelope.
7. Address the Envelope: Write the address of your Local Election Office on the mailing envelope. The address of your Local Election Office is provided on your customized information sheet.
8. Double Check: Double check that you have completed everything.
9. Ensure evidence of mailing from outside the US:
* Foreign Postmark: Affix the appropriate postage. All states will accept a foreign postmark as evidence of submission from outside the U.S.
* Consular Stamp: All states have been informed by the U.S. State Department that they should accept a consular stamp as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using the consular service results in your mailing envelope being placed in the US postal system. Affix a $0.42 U.S. Postage Stamp.
* Commercial Courier: Some states will also accept a commercial courier service waybill as evidence of submission from outside the U.S. Using a courier service should be a last resort. Alabama explicitly refuses to accept materials sent to them by commercial couriers, such as Federal Express and DHL. If using a courier, please staple a copy of the air waybill to the ballot envelope prior to sealing the courier envelope.
10. Seal the addressed envelope - and Mail your FWAB Today!
More questions? Contact our experts at VoterCentral@DemocratsAbroad.org
What are you waiting for? Do the FWAB today!
IMPORTANT!!! When downloading this, in order to get FREE POSTAGE, you MUST ALSO download the "Affixed Postage Paid Envelope Templete" - otherwise YOU MUST provide the stamp (currently 42¢).
NOTE: If you forgot to download this envelope and you drop it off at one of Neil's above mentioned Mailbox, Etc., THEY will pay for the postage once it ships from Miami to YOUR states voting office!!!
WHEN DO I NEED TO GET IT IN THE MAIL BY?
Most places I've seen say by Nov. 4 (one even said the 10th I believe). OK - I'm not the smartest apple that's fallen from the cart but IF I mailed to BY Nov. 4 (Election Day), wouldn't that basically mean that my vote did NOT count?? Maybe in the FINAL tally but do they count that really? To allow for time for it to be overnighted to Miami (does it take 1 or 2 days from CR??), THEN, time for the U.S. Post Office to do their job (don't EVEN get me going on my faith/trust in them. Needless to say, I'm giving them more time) to get my ballot to the proper state (luckily mine goes to Florida!), I'm sending mine out on or before the 27th with the Democrats Abroad final mailing!!
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PLEASE forward this to EVERY U.S. citizen you know!!
Vicki
(for the latest update go to:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2008/09/us-citizens-living-in-costa-rica-voting.html
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