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With the U.S. Presidential election cycle fast
approaching now is the time to register to vote and/or request
absentee ballots from your home districts in the states.
The right to vote is both a privilege and a
responsibility, and this coming election is shaping up to be of a
historic nature. Be sure to have your voice heard, regardless of
where you are living around the world! Americans living or working
overseas are eligible to participate in state primaries as well as
the general election in November, 2008.
Due to decisions by the individual states it’s
possible that your home state primary may be held on an earlier date
than in previous years, so be aware of any changes.
Please see the following links and information,
re-printed here from a previous “Ask the Consul.” Take note of your
state’s particular procedures and deadlines for absentee voting.
It’s important to give yourself enough time to get your ballot in
and make sure your opinion is heard!
The official government website
for absentee voting assistance is the Federal Voting Assistance
Program (FVAP) website at
www.fvap.gov. It has information about absentee voting,
including the downloadable absentee ballot application,
state-specific instructions, links to local officials, and a
downloadable emergency ballot.
To register to vote and to request an
absentee ballot, download the
Federal Post Card Application at
http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. You can also obtain
this from the U.S. Embassy. Simply fill it out and send it in. A
postage-paid envelope template, valid if you are using the U.S.
postal system, is available at
http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/returnenvelope.html.
Each state has different voting procedures.
Information about your state's procedures is available at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/vagchapter3.html.
A calendar of election deadlines is available at
http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/primarycal.html.
An emergency
ballot is available. If the ballot receipt deadline is
approaching, and you have not received the blank ballot from local
officials, you can download an emergency ballot, write the names of
the candidates and the offices for which they are running, and send
it back by your state's deadline. The emergency ballot is available
at
http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/forms.html. |
