U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL - MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS: Completing and Returning Absentee Ballots
I just got this from a friend in Mexico. Though I share it should anyone find it useful.
*United States Consulate General Guadalajara*
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO
AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE
*Message for U.S. Citizens:*
*Completing and Returning Absentee Ballots*
*Date: October 01, 2012*
*BEGIN TEXT.*
*Absentee ballots already delivered to overseas voters*. Every U.S. citizen
who requested an absentee ballot and selected the fax or email delivery
option should have it by now. Please vote and take steps to return your
voted ballot promptly so your vote will count. See instructions below.
* *
*Returning your ballot by mail.* Place your voted ballot in a U.S.
postage-paid envelope containing the address of your local election
easier for you to use the Mexican postal system, be sure to affix
sufficient international postage, and allow sufficient time for
international mail delivery. If time is tight, you may want to use a
private courier service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, or DHL) to meet your state's
ballot receipt deadline.
*Returning your ballot by email, fax, or upload.* Some states allow these
options, but may also require you to still mail in the signed paper
ballot. Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website at
www.FVAP.gov <http://www.fvap.gov/>.
to www.FVAP.gov <http://www.fvap.gov/> to complete a Federal Write-in
Absentee Ballot. Follow the above guidance for returning your ballot. If
you later receive your regular absentee ballot, vote and return it
immediately. Local election officials will count just one ballot per voter,
deadline.
*Forgot to register or request an absentee ballot? Act immediately! There
are three options.*
*Option #1:* Register and request a ballot today using the federal post
card application at www.FVAP.gov <http://www.fvap.gov/>. Select the
electronic ballot delivery option, include your email address (and fax
number) and send it to local election officials in your state. Almost every
state lets you submit it by email or fax. Once your application is
processed they will send you your ballot via fax or email depending on your
state. Vote as soon as you receive the blank ballot. Registration deadlines
carefully.
*Option#2:* Follow the instructions in Option #1, but also complete and
send in a Federal Write-in Ballot at the same time to make sure your vote
is counted. This option may be the best one for first-time voters if your
state requires you to submit your Federal Post Card Application by
mail. Vote and submit your regular absentee ballot if/when it
arrives. Local election officials will count just one ballot per voter, and
will use the regular ballot if it's received by the ballot receipt deadline.
*Option #3: *Voters from the following states can use the Federal Write-in
Absentee Ballot as a combined voter registration form, absentee ballot
request, and absentee ballot: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. (*NOTE:* This form must reach
your local election officials by your state's absentee ballot request
deadline or voter registration deadline, whichever is first.)
* *
*Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by mail.* Follow the
guidance above for returning your ballot by mail.
*Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by email or fax.* The
following states allow voters to email or fax their signed, voted Federal
Write-in Absentee Ballots back to local election officials: Arizona,
California (fax only), Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, and
West Virginia. (*NOTE:* see instructions at
www.FVAP.gov<http://www.fvap.gov/>for faxing or emailing your voted
ballot.)
* *
Assistance Officers or private U.S. citizen volunteers at the monthly
outreach event in the Lake Chapala area on *Wednesday, October 3*. Consulate
be collecting completed ballots and absentee ballot requests.*
at 33 3268 2173 during regular business hours or at
VoteGUADALAJARA@state.gov.
*Confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.* Learn more at the
Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website at
www.FVAP.gov<http://www.fvap.gov/>.
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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