U.S. Overseas Voter Registration

The United States will be holding their federal election on Tuesday 2nd November 2004. All U.S. citizens are entitled to vote, even those who live overseas. Preparing your voter registration form is quick and easy, it can be done online and takes no more than 5 minutes. Use the following website to create your registration form: overseasvote2004.com

UPDATE:
29th September 2004
Check the website for a list of state deadlines and fax information. If your state allows you to fax, you must sign and mail it as well.

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/overseas_vote.jpg[/img]

I just went to the US Consulate Munich, and applied for an absentee ballot (I am already registered to vote in Maryland). The consulate had a small sign that stated 5 October 2004 was the last day for such requested to be received by the relevant election official in the US (usually a county clerk). I presume Oct 5 is the deadline for the earliest state. For example, MD deadline is October 12.

I filled out the short form, and handed it to the clerk to be mailed. No cost to me.

The consulate has a web page for those in Bavaria seeking information on voting overseas: usembassy.de/munich

mike

Yes, that is the hard way to do it... but for a majority of states, the OverseasVote2004.com is the quickest and easiest way to register and request an absentee ballot! takes about 5 minutes, no travel necessary.

Previously it had been suggested that U.S.overseas voter registration/absentee ballot request forms be sent in by 15th September 2004 in order to meet all state deadlines which vary from state to state. The deadline is the day the form is to have been received by your particular office in the United States. OverseasVote2004.com has updated and listed the state deadlines on its site and gives exact instructions how to fax and send the forms now.

Don't forget that after filling out the forms online, you MUST PRINT them, SIGN and SEND to the address the site has printed out for you. The program even prints the address on the envelope. Even if you fax the form, you still need to SEND it in with a personal signature, otherwise you won't receive an absentee ballot. Check the site and READ all the details. It takes you through the process step by step.

It's not too late to register!

When I went to the U.S. Consulate a couple of weeks ago to turn in my absentee voter ballot, I discoverd that the Consulate is also holding an Absentee Voter Ballot Week from October 11-15. In case you don't receive your ballot BACK from the U.S., you can go to the Consulate that week and complete your ballot.

You can still register! You can still vote!! There is DEFINITELY still time!!

You can register quite late in some states so don't give up hope! Go to www.fvap.gov and then go to "State by state instructions" on the top left side of the page.

You can also call (toll free) 0800-1007428 and get an American voting expert in the Pentagon who will talk you through what you need to do.

Summary:
1. Your deadlines are set by your state. Check your state's page at www.fvap.gov to see what the last date is to register and/or request an absentee ballot.

2. If you have already registered and have notified your state of your need of an absentee ballot, you should get your ballot by mid-September. Follow the instructions on your ballot carefully and send it back immediately.

3. If you don't receive your ballot by that mid-September and you have both registered to vote before 2 October and have requested your ballot by that time, you can use the FEDERAL WRITE IN ABSENTEE BALLOT (FWAB). To obtain one, contact your consulate or embassy or the military police at your nearest military base for the FWAB and instructions on filling it out. (The Garmisch military police, for instance, provided me with the names of their community's voting officers; the MPS are available at 08821-759-801. If you call another base are unable to get help from the MPs, ask the operator to put you in touch with the Inspector General's office - they will be able to find you the voting assistance officers on their base.)

Good luck! Write me if I can be of assistance, too - am not a lawyer but have had to get to know this system pretty well, having lived overseas for most of my adult life.

But remember that unless the vote is even closer than that of 2000, your vote will not be counted. I don't care what the polls say, I think Bush is going to get crushed in November.

hope you are right about bush being crushed, but think you might be just a tad optimistic. i just saw today's polls and they are neck to neck...my ballot has been mailed. voting is an important exercise, as we all know!

Bush has made it difficult for people living overseas. People will not talk to us unless they first find out if we voted for Bush.

If you like Bush and come from my home state of NY, well...your vote does not count no matter what. I think Nixon was the last Republican to win NY. Man to I hate the electoral college!!

Forget the polls. I still think Bush will get crushed. What people say in public and how they vote in private are many times two different things. There was a reason why Gore did not will one Southern state. Polls showed he was doing well there. He did not even win his own state!! Why was that? Many people believe the "bible belt" was not about to vote for a Jewish vice president. I am not so sure if that's true. But it would make sense, because no one would say that in public.

read this (in German):