Question for Americans:Voting?

[jantango]

And finally a message from the US Consulate to American Citizens in Argentina -

Your vote counts! Did you know that many U.S. elections for house and senate have been decided by a margin smaller than the number of ballots cast by absentee voters? All states are required to count every absentee ballot as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline.

Follow a few simple steps to make sure that you can vote in the 2016 U.S. elections:

1. Request Your Ballot: Complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). You must complete a new FPCA after January 1, 2016 to ensure you receive your ballot for the 2016 elections. The completion of the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. The FPCA is accepted by all local election officials in all U.S. states and territories.

You can complete the FPCA online at FVAP.gov. The online voting assistant will ask you questions specific to your state. We encourage you to ask your local election officials to deliver your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state). Include your email address on your FPCA to take advantage of the electronic ballot delivery option. Return the FPCA per the instructions on the website. FVAP.gov will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original signature. If you must return a paper version, please see below for mailing options.

2. Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and states generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.

3. Return Your Completed Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can do so free of charge at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Place your ballots in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage, and address them to the relevant local election officials.

If you wish to drop your FPCA or ballot at the U.S. Embassy for mailing, please fill out and seal your voting materials per the instructions located at FVAP.gov. Insert your materials in the postage-paid envelope located at https://www.fvap.gov/eo/overview/materials/forms, address it to your local election officials, and drop it at the U.S. Embassy at the gate located on Cervino.

If it’s more convenient for you, you can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense.

Researching the Candidates and Issues: Online Resources. Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain on-line. You can also read national and hometown newspapers on-line, or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP's Voting Alerts ([email protected]). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter.

Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact the U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires Voting Assistance Officer at [email protected].

Remember, your vote counts!

 

[jantango]

I mailed the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation and the Illinois Primary specimen ballot yesterday. There is a delay in authorization of the official ballot, so my specimen ballot will be accepted if my official ballot isn't received by the deadline.

The Voter's Declaration form is sent once you have filed the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). The pdf file is four pages with instructions and the official federal write-in absentee ballot is two pages.

I vote Democratic, so I received a Democratic ballot from Illinois where political party affiliation is required on the FPCA. I voted for one candidate for President, US Senator, US Representative, and four delegates to the national convention who support the presidential candidate.

Mailing instructions are as follows:
To return by mail, fold the ballot. Put it in a blank envelope, seal the envelope, and mark it "security envelope." This security envelope keeps your vote private. Put the security envelope and the Declaration/Affirmation form into a larger envelope together. Seal the larger envelope. Enter your current complete overseas mailing address and the election date. Enter the name and mailing address of the location election official to whom you are sending the packet. It must be the same location election office where you sent your request for an absentee ballot.

Printing two PDF files of 6 pages - 12 pesos
Two envelopes - 2.75 pesos
Postage (simple) to the USA - 40 pesos

I sent my ballot for the March 15 primary in Illinois.

 

[thorsten]

jantango, out of curiosity, how does the system of the US primary elections work? Are not all citizens being able to vote, but only those who have an affiliation with either Democrats or Republicans and can then only vote for the candidate within their party?

 

[sesamosinsal]

jantango, out of curiosity, how does the system of the US primary elections work? Are not all citizens being able to vote, but only those who have an affiliation with either Democrats or Republicans and can then only vote for the candidate within their party?

It depends on the state. For New Hampshire, for example, you don't have to be a member of a party. For other states, you do have to be a declared member.

 

[EJLarson]

It depends on the state. For New Hampshire, for example, you don't have to be a member of a party. For other states, you do have to be a declared member.

Depends on whether the state's primaries are "open" or "closed." Alaska, for example, flip-flopped a couple of times: one year you had to be a legally-declared Democrat to vote in the Democratic primary; next year you could be undeclared and vote in either D or R list (but not both, or cross-ballots). During the "closed" years, a declared Independent couldn't vote for either Ds or Rs in the primaries.

 

[sesamosinsal]

Depends on whether the state's primaries are "open" or "closed." Alaska, for example, flip-flopped a couple of times: one year you had to be a legally-declared Democrat to vote in the Democratic primary; next year you could be undeclared and vote in either D or R list (but not both, or cross-ballots). During the "closed" years, a declared Independent couldn't vote for either Ds or Rs in the primaries.

As I said Ed, it depends on the state.

 

[EJLarson]

As I said Ed, it depends on the state.

My intent was to augment your answer, mainly for benefit of the non-US members who probably find these things baffling. I wasn't disputing or suggesting your answer wasn't correct. Hope you didn't take it that way.

 

[jantango]

jantango, out of curiosity, how does the system of the US primary elections work? Are not all citizens being able to vote, but only those who have an affiliation with either Democrats or Republicans and can then only vote for the candidate within their party?

I've been a registered voter in Illinois for 50 years. I was surprised when I heard last year how many people aren't able to vote because of photo ID requirements, changes to the Voting Rights Act, and states that want to suppress voter turnout to win elections. The right to vote is something I've taken for granted.

Bradly and Ed answered your question about party affiliation. There are candidates running in parties other than Democrat and Republican -- Libertarian, Green Party. Declaring affiliation requires voters to investigate the candidates and their stand on the issues. It's easier than every with the help of the internet.

The ballot for the general election lists candidates for all parties. It's unlikely that someone will vote for candidates of different parties, but a voter has that right to do so.

 

[jantango]

The election process is long and complicated. Caucuses and primaries voting for delegates to the national conventions where super delegates chose a candidate of the party to run in the general election.

Super delegates Explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjVc5Inf0W8

 

[jantango]

The next president of the United States will appoint a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia who died.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG_FRza-Obs

Vote!