Time to Vote! A Checklist for Overseas Voters Request Your Ballot: Make sure that you have requested your absentee ballot. Go to www.VoteFromAbroad.org if you have not.
Be Aware: Let your American friends who may not know - that voting in the Democrats Abroad Primary this past February will not get you a ballot to vote in November. Help us spread the word.
Source for State Deadlines: Deadlines are fast approaching. Send in your ballot today to ensure you have sufficient time to meet this deadline. Note that most states allow the deadline to be met by faxing the original signed FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) as long as the original hardcopy is mailed and received before the ballots are counted.
Here is an up-to-date list of registration and ballot return deadlines.
Confirm Your Registration with Your State On-line: The following states allow you to find your registration status on-line: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Go to the following and click on the link for your state.
Confirm Your Registration with Your State via Other Means (i.e., if not available online): Contact information for your local election officials is available at the following website. Select your state and then the local jurisdiction from the drop-down menus. Email or call your election official directly to find out if you are on the voter registration and absentee ballot rolls.
Use the Federal Write In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), as needed: Along with your ballot request, www.VoteFromAbroad.org will provide a backup ballot called the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Keep it in a safe place. If you do not receive your official state ballot by October 15, then go ahead and send in the FWAB. If your state ballot arrives later, complete and mail that one, too. This is not double voting - your election official will count only one. Provided you requested your ballot early enough.
If you are not on the electoral roll or if you cannot contact your local election official, please let us know and we will provide additional help and guidance.
Questions? Email with your state and as much information as feasible: help@votefromabroad.org.
Don't forget the postage!! Expect to receive your absentee ballots in early October, although dates depend on each state. Every state ballot is different since some may have pages of referendums. We recommend posting your absentee ballot at a post office and getting this post marked. Return your ballots as soon as feasible to ensure sufficient time to be returned to your County's election office.
Note that even if the envelope says postage paid, this is NOT the case from mailing outside of the US. Ensure you add sufficient postage! Take your ballot to the post office. They can give you proof of posting for free, weigh the ballot to assure correct postage and stamp it with a post mark which is required in some states.
Update: November 2, 2008 @ 8:07pm
