ABSENTEE VOTING OVERSEAS
Extensive information about absentee registration and voting appears on the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website (www.fvap.gov). The FVAP website includes a frequently asked questions section: http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/faq.html. You can also call FVAP via a toll-free telephone number from Venezuela: 0800-100-3602.
Some states allow voting by Internet. You can review information about the Internet voting program at www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/vagchapter3.html.
Note: Absentee voters should request their ballots at least 60 days before the election.
Who Can Vote from Overseas?
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows certain
U.S. citizens to vote absentee, including members of the U.S. Uniformed Services
on active duty and merchant marine and their family members and to U.S. citizens
residing outside of the U.S. Members of the U.S. Uniformed Services or merchant
marine and their family members may vote absentee while away from their place
of voting residence, wherever stationed, within or outside the United States.
The UOCAVA also applies to U.S. citizens residing outside the United States
and its territories. These citizens may vote in the state or territory
where they last resided immediately prior to departing the United States,
even if
many years have elapsed and the citizen maintains no residence in the state
or territory and the intent to return to that state or territory may not
be certain. Most states and territories permit these citizens to vote in
elections
for Federal offices only, although some states may send a ballot containing
local, state and Federal offices.
Note that the UOCAVA provides that voting for Federal offices shall not
affect the determination of the voter's place of residence for purpose
of any tax
imposed under Federal, state or local law. Liability for state income
tax, however, may be incurred in some states by voting absentee in state
or
local elections. To assess the probability of incurring state taxes on
income earned
outside the United States, you may wish to consult legal counsel for
details.
Registering to Vote
In order to register to vote and/or to request an Absentee Ballot, an
eligible US citizen must accurately complete a Federal Post Card
Application form
(FPCA) and submit that to the proper US election official. The FPCA
is used to:
Register to Vote in Federal, State and Local Elections
Request an Absentee Ballot
Report Changes of Address
The extent and manner of FPCA
usage is controlled by
state and territory law, and sometimes by local procedure.
For information on your state's requirements, please visit the Federal Election
Commission Web Page
(FEC) website, or contact the American Citizens Services office
at
907-8365.
The deadline for submitting the FPCA may vary from state to state.
In general, in order to ensure timely delivery of the election
ballot to
you, every
non-registered citizen is urged to submit the FPCA into the
hands of the appropriate election
official at least 60 days prior to the election; registered
citizens are urged to submit the FPCA into the hands of the appropriate
election official
at least
45 days before the election.
If your state instructs you to notarize the Federal Post
Card Application (FPCA) form and/or your Voting Ballot
form, the
American Citizens
Services branch can
perform this service. There is no charge. Our hours are
from 08:30-11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday except for U.S.
and Venezuelan holidays
and training days.
Mailing your FPCA (and later your Voting Ballots) to the
U.S.
All U.S. voting material is marked "U.S.
Postage Paid" for mailing in the U.S. Overseas voters have several options for mailing:
The Embassy's American Citizens Services section can
mail your completed FPCA and voting ballot without
charge, but
CANNOT
fax or express
mail them for you.
You can airmail your completed FPCA and Voting Ballot
from Venezuela by affixing the appropriate Airmail
Postage
For More Information...
The best single source of information is the
Federal Election Commission (FEC) website.
Also you can find additional information at the
Federal Voting Assistance Program (fvap)main
page
On their site you'll find:
Comprehensive
information about voting in US elections
Information on
Electronic (Fax)
Transmission Service
Assistance from
the Federal Voting
Ombudsman
with absentee voting problems and
issues
Help with urgent requests for
registration and/or a ballot
Help if you have
not received a status
reply from the
local election
official
in
your county
or voting
residence the Voting Information
Center (VIC) and...
Information on elections, and
recorded messages from Governors,
Congresspersons
and candidates
for state
and federal offices.
If after reviewing the site
you still have additional
questions, you can
contact Federal
Voting Assistance
Program by
e-mail,
or, by phone
in the
U.S. at 800-438-8683
or from Venezuela at 0800
100 3602.
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