U.S. CITIZEN INFORMATIONAL MESSAGE

The following Message is for maximum dissemination to U.S. Citizens.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON VOTING

September 19, 2008


The Presidential Election is just around the corner. NOW is the time to act if you want your vote counted.

Registering to Vote

The deadline for registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot in most states is at the end of September. The place to start for information on when to register and how to register is www.fvap.gov, the official overseas voter information website of the U.S. government. You can also secure more information about voting overseas through these other websites as well: www.votefromabroad.org (questions can be directed to help@votefromabroad.org); www.democratsabroad.org; www.republicansabroad.org, and www.overseasvotefoundation.org.

Casting Your Ballot

Once you receive your absentee ballot, the embassy recommends you send it via an express-mail courier service. This allows you to track your ballot as it makes its way to your county election officials. Here are a few of those companies that provide express-mail courier service: www.fedex.com; www.ups.com and www.dhl.com.

The Overseas Vote Foundation and FedEx have partnered to offer a discounted shipping program for the 2008 election cycle. Voters from 89 countries will be able to express mail their ballots for a substantial discount from September 15 to October 29, 2008. Voters in Spain will be able to pay $ $23.50 for express shipping to their local election officials. Every state and territory except Alabama is participating in this program and will accept ballots received via FedEx. Details of the program are available at https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/ExpressYourVote.htm.

The Federal Write in Ballot (FWAB)

We understand that many states, due to the later than usual political party conventions this year, are in the process of printing ballots or just starting to send them out. If you find yourself having not received your absentee ballot and the election date is getting close, you may also vote through the Federal Write in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). The FWAB may be downloaded from www.fvap.gov.

There are three conditions that must be fulfilled before you can use the FWAB:

You must be a member of the U.S. Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine or a U.S. Citizen who is absent from your place of residence where your are qualified to vote during the general election; and
You have applied for a regular ballot, using the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) or other application allowed by state law, early enough so that the appropriate election official receives the request at least 30 days before the election or before the ballot request deadlines established by the state, whichever is later; and
You have not received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state.

More information on the FWAB and how to submit the FWAB can be found at www.fvap.gov.

As always, you can contact Spain’s Voting Assistance Officer, Morgan Parker, at 91-587-2200 or through email at VOTEMADRID@state.gov.


Consular Section Madrid. American Citizen Services: 91-587-2240

*Embassy and emergencies after hours: 91-587-2200

American Consulate General Barcelona: 93-280-2227.

Consular Agency La Coruña: 981-213-233
Consular Agency Las Palmas: 928-271-259
Consular Agency Málaga: 952-474-891
Consular Agency Palma de Mallorca: 971-403-707
Consular Agency Seville: 954-231-885
Consular Agency Valencia: 963-516-973