important notice for americans voting from abroad
We interrupt today’s regularly scheduled What’s Cooking Wednesday (but do come back Friday for La Buona Cucina Americana and Mom’s American as Apple Pie!) to remind Americans abroad who want their voices to be heard, from the US Department of State:
If you haven’t received your ballot within three weeks of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, and you are required to return your voted ballot by mail, you should complete, sign, date, and send in a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Make sure it is witnessed, if required by your state. If you subsequently receive your regular absentee ballot, execute it and return it regardless of when you receive it. Court decisions sometimes require late counting of ballots voted by Election Day, but received by local election officials for a specified period of time following Election Day.
How can you get a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot?
You can find instructions here (PDF) at the State Department website, through the Overseas Vote Foundation here, or through VoteFromAbroad here.
Want something more interactive?
Check out this tutorial from the Overseas Vote Foundation:
And here is a great post from expat James at Wandering Italy on why he votes.
No excuses! VOTE!!!!!!!!
12 Beans of Wisdom to “important notice for americans voting from abroad”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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Expat Jame’s heart might be in the right place but he isn’t really making a great point against racism by using the term ‘slant-eye’ to describe a group of people.
As a mother of a child that is half asian I find this highly offensive.
Autumn’s last blog post..Farting Around
Autumn, I’m not really sure how to respond to you because to me it is clear that James is expressing that everyone is equal despite physical characteristics; perhaps your comment would be better addressed if sent to James through his contact page?
Yes I did that and I wrote to you as well because you linked to him!
He may be stating that everyone is equal despite physical characteristics but he is contradicting himself when using such an uneducated and racist term such as slant eye. Which by the way, asians don’t actually have ‘slanted eyes’. They have an extra fold.
I wanted to point this out to you because I am pretty sure you would understand this.
Autumn’s last blog post..Farting Around
Autumn, I personally understood it to be a writing technique–his taking and using the term as those with racist views would use it; I probably wouldn’t have expressed my point the same way, but to me, that’s a matter of writing style, and obviously it didn’t work for you in this instance. Hopefully you’ll get a response from James that better satisfies you, though, since I can’t explain his thought process.
I’m a little worried about my ballot, actually. I called Beaumont the other day before I mailed my “emergency” ballot and they said they don’t accept those in the state of Texas. *So* strange, as I am sure Dems Abroad would know this if it was true. Likely this gal in little ‘old Beaumont didn’t know what I was talking about.
So, I have no choice but to sit, wait and cross my faingers. 😉
Cherrye at My Bella Vita’s last blog post..Calabrian Water: Natural Water from Calabria’s Mountains
Huh. Nothing on the State Dept’s site suggested that some states don’t accept them. Hopefully someone else in that office knows what’s going on! Kudos to you for checking up 🙂
I sent my ballot in.
I read there are already problems with machines back in the States. grrrrr
nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..You’ve Got Mail!
Grrrr is right. I’m beginning to wonder if this one will really be over before Inauguration Day….
I would add the proviso that if you are voting for McCain, take your time.
running42k’s last blog post..Thanks
I cannot argue with your proviso 😉
I didn’t even know that this was possible. I guess it’s a little too late for me to register now. I’ll have to keep this in mind in about 4 years…
Tru Talent’s last blog post..Tru Talent Wants You To Become An Actor!
Be sure to check your particular state (your last state of residence) just in case there’s still time!
That’s great! Thank you so much! I AM mailing mine in this year and I’ve been checking every day but it hasn’t come in yet and I was getting worried.
I’ll do it this way! Perfect timing and thanks again!
You are *SO* on the ball, a wonderful inspiration, and I am right behind you! Go team!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
So glad to be of service 🙂
Nice post Michelle. I really appreciate all the effort you have made to get information out to overseas voters especially. It makes a difference. I finally received my ballot and was starting to get worried as to what to do if it didn’t come, so I am sure there are other people out there wondering the same thing. Now if you could actually do something about the slow mail and making sure that every vote gets counted!
Magari Marla! Hopefully those of us overseas can really, truly make a difference this election 🙂
hi michelle,
this writing analysis i find very interesting.
and you know–she lives 10 miles away from me!
i did not know of her until you pointed me in her direction.
cheers,
chesca
chesca (exskindiver)’s last blog post..10 top reasons to smile
So glad you enjoyed Chesca! That’s too funny that Dresbold is so close to you!
Such an important post, Michelle! Thanks for all you do to get the vote out!
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..More Silliness – Foux de Fa Fa – Flight of the Conchords
It’s almost here, Jen….
Just wanted to thank you for reminding your readers to vote! Brava!
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Only a few days to go, J!