What is the voting process? First step we registered at Vote from Abroad. The site facilitates registration. It includes sections on myths about voting from abroad and the facts about voting from abroad. If you are an American living abroad and haven't registered - do it today, there should still be time. This same process applies to US military on overseas assignment.
We vote in North Carolina (the specific process may vary from state to state). To assure that we receive an absentee ballot for all Federal, state, and local elections that we can vote in, we register every year at the vote from abroad site. In 2008 when I was teaching in Penang, Malaysia the ballots (primary and general election) arrived by mail. This year our ballots arrived by email (on September 11, 2012). We have the option of requesting ballots by mail or electronically and we can return our ballots by mail, fax, or email (as an attachment). If we fax or email a ballot we include signed forms affirming that we meet overseas voter requirements and waiving our right to privacy. In 2008 I was required to have two persons sign the envelop affirming that I was the person who had voted.
Political actors turn over slowly. We were familiar with all the candidates, except for some judges and the candidates for county Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. Google came in handy. The North Carolina Bar Association had information on the judges. And we found other on-line sites to fill in the gaps. Much easier than going to the voting station trying to remember who is who! North Carolina prohibits taking materials into the voting booth.
We emailed our ballots Sunday afternoon. When we awoke Tuesday morning we opened emails that reported our ballots had been rec'd and processed. Way to go Wake County!
ReplyDeleteAbbreviated version Message from US Embassy (another reason to be proud)
ReplyDeleteU.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Message for U.S. Citizens
Completing and Returning Absentee Ballots
4 October 2012
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 officials. Drop it off at the Embassy and we’ll send it back home for you without the need to pay international postage. . . .
If you wish to submit your ballot to the Embassy, please do so in person by Wednesday, October 24, 2012. The Embassy will accept ballots for mailing Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM and from 1 PM to 4 PM. We will be closed Monday, October 8, 2012 for a U.S. holiday.
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. Select the electronic ballot delivery option, include your email address (and fax number) and send it to local election officials in your state.
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.
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.)