NEW LAW!!!
ALL USA CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD MUST RE-REGISTER TO VOTE IN EACH ELECTION YEAR
IN ORDER TO VOTE.
REGISTER TO VOTE AND REQUEST YOUR BALLOT ASAP.
More information at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/06/AmericansLivingAbroadReregisterToVote.html
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There are 2 important facts to remember to ensure that you can vote; and that your vote counts:
#1.
You must request a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) DURING the CALENDAR YEAR you're voting in (so you can NOT register in December if your primary is in May).
DON'T WAIT!!!
Register TODAY here!
#2.
You
MUST do this EVEN if you have voted in the previous election and you
have automatically received a ballot from your local election official.
CRUCIAL
To register - you MUST have with you the
ENTIRE mailing address of your
LAST U.S. RESIDENCE
to determine your proper voting jurisdiction!!
Some clarification on that
(http://CostaRica.USEmbassy.gov/voting_information.html):
"Your
"legal state of residence" for voting purposes is the state or
territory where you last resided immediately prior to your departure
from the United States. This applies even though you may not have
property or other ties in your last state of residence and your intent
to return to that state may be uncertain."
This site also has a link to the
Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form
ALL
of this is important because if an election is challenged, then the
un-requested ballots will not be counted even if you received it without
requesting it. For the future, they strongly encourage you to make a
standing New Year’s resolution to submit a new Federal Post Card
Application every January. That way, you receive ballots for all of the
elections for which you are eligible during the calendar year.
(personal
note from me/Vicki - "Am I the only person that questions if they're
REALLY wanting EVERYONE to vote? Do they REALLY want our vote to count .
. . hmmmmm")
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Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee or vote-from-abroad in
past elections, you
MUST COMPLETE a FPCA
EACH YEAR TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS
as an Overseas Absentee Voter.
• FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY IN COSTA RICA
If you would like to
pick up a Federal Post Card Application or drop off your completed
application for delivery to the United States via the Diplomatic Pouch at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica (in Pavas) - FREE of charge.
• Voting
assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and/or
• Drop off your completed voting forms and
ballots, addressed to your local election officials, any Monday through
Friday, 8am-4pm, excluding Costa Rican and U.S. holidays.
A drop box is located for quick drop off in the Guard Booth at the
entrance to the Consular Section at the Embassy.
Please bring your
valid U.S. passport if you would like to speak with a voting assistance
officer.
• 4th of JULY • U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Visit the U.S. Embassy booth • Democrats Abroad booth or the • Republicans Abroad booth
on the grounds of the Cervecería Costa Rica
from 9am-1pm on July 4.
For additional
information on this event, go to:
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE U.S.?
Normal transit time for applications and ballots from Costa
Rica to the United States is 10 to 15 days so plan accordingly with deadlines for your individual state (which is the state you were last registered to vote in).
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Whether you have never voted while overseas before or have, the process is easy -- just follow these steps:
1. Complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) -
fvap.gov
Whether you are a first-time voter or have voted absentee in past
elections, complete an FPCA to receive your ballot this fall. It allows
you to register to vote and request absentee ballots for all elections
for federal offices (presidential and state primaries, run-off, special,
and the November general elections) during the course of the year in
which you submit the FPCA. Local election officials in all U.S. states
and territories accept the FPCA.
The online voting assistant
available at
FVAP.gov is an easy way to complete the FPCA. It will ask
you questions specific to your state and tell you if electronic ballot
delivery is possible. No matter in which state you vote, we encourage
you to ask your local election officials to deliver your blank ballots
to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on
your state). Be sure to include your email address to take advantage
of electronic delivery. The online voting assistant will generate a
printable FPCA, which you can then print and sign.
2. Submit the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
See the information at the beginning of this message for options to
drop off your FPCA in person to the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa
Rica.
If it’s more convenient for you, you can have a friend or
family member drop off your FPCA to the Embassy on your behalf or you
can send your FPCA or ballot directly to your local election officials
via international mail or professional courier service at your own
expense.
NOTE: Some states (like Florida [I learned the hard way]) require more steps of you so read their requirements•procedure CAREFULLY!!!
3. Receive Your Ballot
After submitting your
FPCA, most states allow you to confirm online your registration and
ballot delivery selection. States are now required to send out ballots
45 days before an election for federal office (President, U.S. Senate, or
U.S. House of Representatives) to any overseas U.S. citizen who has
completed an FPCA.
4. Return Your Ballot
As with the
FPCA, you can return your voted ballot to your local election officials
free of charge via the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or mail it directly
at your own expense.
Your Vote Counts
Many U.S. elections
within the past 10 years have been decided by a margin of victory of
less than 0.1%. All states are required to count every absentee ballot
as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the
absentee ballot receipt deadline (differs by state).
Be an educated
voter. Check out the FVAP links page
for helpful resources that will
aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information
about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues is
widely available and easy to obtain via numerous websites such as
Project Smart Voter.
You can also read national and hometown newspapers
online, and search the Internet to locate articles and information.
To receive information by email about election dates and deadlines,
subscribe to FVAP's Voting Alerts (
vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares
Voting Alerts via
If you have any questions
about registering to vote overseas, please contact:
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Information on
DEMOCRATS ABROAD
Costa Rica
MEETINGS
Meetings are USUALLY held the LAST Saturday of each month - from 9:30am till noon-ish
MORE DETAILS at:LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/07/democrats-abroad-cr.html
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REPUBLICANS ABROAD - COSTA RICA
Not sure what's up with them as I've
emailed them a few times in the past and have never received a reply
for more clarity on membership, meetings, etc. I recently found they
had new contact info and emailed them to find out about Voter
Registration at the 4th of July Picnic but no one has responded. THIS
is why I do not have more information/logo or anything on them)
CONTACT: Dick Macauley - 2-439-2897 or DickMacauley@yahoo.com
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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/06/AmericansLivingAbroadReregisterToVote.html
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