Warden Message July 4, 2006

Dear Americans,
 
Happy Fourth of July! At the Embassy, we are busily preparing to mark the day with an event for our Zimbabwean friends and colleagues, and very much looking forward to sharing further celebrations with many of you at the American Community Party. This week also marks Overseas Voters Week, a timely reminder of our privilege, right, and responsibility as American Citizens to choose our government, no matter where we live.  As the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Walter H. Judd remarked, “People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote- a very different thing.” If you choose to make yourself heard, our consular section stands ready to assist. With only 18 weeks until Election Day 2006, many of you have 11 weeks or less to insure that you are properly registered to vote and request your ballots by mail.  Below you will find answers to many Frequently Asked Questions about voting as an American overseas. If you need additional information, please contact us at consularharare@state.gov. 
 
Warm wishes to all you,

Ambassador Christopher Dell

 
1.  Am I Registered to Vote?

To check the status of your voter registration, contact your State or Local Election Office.  The Federal Voting Assistance Program website has a listing of all the State Election Office’s websites.  Simply visit our website at www.fvap.gov and select the State Election Site.  Once at this homepage, you’ll find a great deal of election information including how to contact your local election office.
 
Seven states, as well as the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, allow you to check your voter registration status online.  The states providing this online service are: Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia.  Visit this website for more specific information on registering in these states: http://www.fvap.gov/vao/stregissites.html

2.  Where am I registered to vote?

In order to determine where you are currently registered to vote, contact the election office where you last resided in the United States.  If you are unsure of the county you live in, visit www.fvap.gov and select “What is My County”. 

3.  How do I change where I’m registered to vote?

In order to change the jurisdiction where you are registered to vote you must change your residency.  Changing one’s residency requires that you are physically present in that location and have the intent to remain a resident. Whenever you move into a new county or state, you should always contact the Local Election Office to inform them that you have changed your address.  Communicating with your Local Election Office is the best way to help them help you. You can also signify that you have a new address by filling out block 6 in the FPCA.  If you have previously registered to vote in a jurisdiction other than the one in which you are applying, indicate “previously registered in (location)”.  In order to obtain more information regarding this procedure you can visit www.fvap.gov and select “State by State Instructions”. 

4.  What do I do if I haven’t received my ballot but I sent FPCA in on time? 

One of the best ways to check on the status of your FPCA is to contact your Local Election Office. Any questions regarding FPCA status should be addressed to them. To find out when your state mails out ballots, refer to the 2006-07 Voting Assistance Guide (found online at www.fvap.gov, select “State by State Instructions”).  If Election Day is drawing near, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot to vote.

5.  Do I need a notary on my FPCA? 

Out of the 50 states, the four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, 50 do not require a notary on the FPCA.  The five that DO require a notary on the FPCA are: American Samoa, Michigan (only applies to civilians), Minnesota, Puerto Rico, and Vermont. In order to check the status of your state’s rules regarding notary requirements go to: http://www.fvap.gov/vao/notaryreqts.html.

6.  Can I Be Registered In Two Different States?

Voting rights for the state you claim apply when you can provide proof of residence, i.e.: driver’s license, water/gas bill, etc. (Each state’s requirements are different, check with your state’s election board to see what they require).  You may only have one legal residence at a time, but Uniformed Service personnel and their family members may change residency each time they are transferred to a new location.  If you continue to receive voting materials from your old county, notify the election board to remove you from their local voter list.

7.  What are the implications for registering where I’m stationed?

Exercising your right to vote in elections for Federal offices only does not affect the determination of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law.  Voting in an election for Federal offices only may not be used as the sole basis to determine residency for the purposes of imposing state and local taxes.  If you claim a particular state as your residence and have other ties with that state in addition to voting, then you may be liable for state and local taxation, depending upon that particular state law.  Consult your legal counsel for specific questions or situations.  

8.   How do I get information about voting and upcoming elections?

If you have questions about where or how to vote, what forms to use or state specific regulations, consult the Voting Assistance Guide available in print form from FVAP or your Voting Assistance Officer, or its online version available at www.fvap.gov 

The Democratic and Republican parties have organized groups in many countries throughout the world, and information may be obtained by contacting their umbrella organizations: 

Democrats Abroad, (202) 863-8103, www.democratsabroad.org,

Republicans Abroad International, (202) 608-1423, www.republicansabroad.com
 
FVAP also offers the Voting Information Center (VIC) that provides information on elections and recorded messages from U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives and state Governors. Callers may connect directly to the office of U.S. Senators, U.S. Representative, Governor or their chief state election official through the VIC. The VIC also provides direct access to Service Voting Action Officers during normal business hours in the U.S. Telephone numbers: 

Commercial 1-800-438-VOTE (Collect calls not accepted).· 

DSN 425-1343. DSN use is authorized for all military and family· members. 

Toll free numbers are available for over 60 countries· (Consult the Voting Assistance Guide or www.fvap.gov for a full listing)

9.  How do I get a FPCA?

In Person:  You can obtain a cardstock version of the FPCA through Voting Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S. embassies/consulates.
 
Electronic: There is an online version of the FPCA (OFPCA), and it is accepted by all states and territories except American Samoa and Guam.  The form is available on the FVAP’s website at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html in PDF format and can be filled in on-line, printed out, signed, dated, placed in an envelope with proper postage and then mailed to the appropriate Local Election Official (LEO). The form requires Acrobat Reader 6 or higher.
 
Having trouble?  If you are still having trouble obtaining a FPCA, feel free to contact FVAP’s Ombudsman service at 800-438-8683.

10.   What’s the difference between a FPCA and a FWAB?

A FPCA is a Federal Post Card Application (Standard Form 76) that should be filled out and sent to your local election official every year and whenever you change addresses, in order to ensure that you receive the necessary ballots with adequate time to vote through the mail.  The FPCA is used to register, and/or request an absentee ballot. Postage is paid if mailed within U.S. postal system, including APO and FPO addresses and U.S. Embassies and Consulates. If mailed in a foreign postal system, international airmail postage must be affixed.  Some states allow the electronic transmission (fax and/or email) of FPCAs, consult the Voting Assistance Guide for state or territory specific procedures.

A FWAB is a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (Standard Form 186) that is used as a backup "emergency" ballot in the case the regular state ballot does not reach the UOCAVA voter in adequate time for voting.  It contains both a write-in area and a special security envelope, and the same postage/mailing conditions apply as for the FPCA.  FWABs are available through Voting Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S. embassies/consulates (also available online at www.fvap.gov). Generally, an absent uniformed services member or a citizen outside the United States can only use the FWAB under very specific conditions: 

THE ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTER MUST:

Be absent from his/her voting residence; 

Have applied for a regular ballot early enough so the request is received by the appropriate local election official not later than the State deadline; or the date that is 30 days before the general election; AND 

Have not· received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state.
 
THE CITIZEN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MUST:
Be located outside the· United States (including APO/FPO addresses); 
Have applied for a· regular ballot early enough so the request is received by the appropriate local election official not later than the State deadline; or
the date that is 30 days before the general election; AND 
Have not received the· requested regular absentee ballot from the state.
 
For additional information about the FPCA and the FWAB refer to chapter two of the 2006-07 Voting Assistance guide (available online at www.fvap.gov.)
 
news From the States . . .
 
NORTH DAKOTA:

As of May 22, 2006 North Dakota residents that are covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) may vote in Primary Elections using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot even if they have not yet submitted a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

The FWAB submitted by the voter will be simultaneously considered the voter’s application and their voted ballot. This ballot also allows a qualified person to vote for all the offices and measures that would appear on their precinct ballot if they were voting in person. 
 
SOUTH CAROLINA:

The Governor of South Carolina recently signed into law four changes affecting UOCAVA voters. 
UOCAVA voters are now required to provide their social· security number on the FPCA.   South Carolina Election Offices will now· mail out ballots at least 45 days prior to the election.

Voters may now· receive blank ballots via email or fax under any circumstances. 
Voters· may now return the voted ballot via email or fax to the County Election Office.  

Upcoming Primaries

July Primaries    Georgia – July 18 Oklahoma – July 25 August Primaries: Kansas – August 1 Tennessee – August 3 Colorado – August 8 Connecticut – August 8 Michigan – August 8 Missouri – August 8 Nevada – August 15   Alaska – August 22 Wyoming – August 22

September Primaries Guam – September 2 Florida – September 5 Virgin Islands – September 11 Arizona – September 12 Virgin Islands – September 11 Delaware – September 12 District of Columbia-September 12 Maryland – September 12 Minnesota – September 12 New Hampshire – September 12 New York – September 12 Rhode Island – September 12 Vermont – September 12 Wisconsin – September 12 Massachusetts – September 19 Washington – September 19awaii – September 23