VOTING IN THE US NATIONAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008 FROM GERMANY
1. Voting in the election: To vote in the November 4, 2008 US Presidential and Congressional election you must register to vote and request an Overseas Absentee Ballot from your ‘voting state'.
2. How to register to vote and request an Overseas Absentee Ballot from your ‘voting state': Very easy, just go to www.VoteFromAbroad.org , and the downloadable Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form that is available to all US voters will appear on your computer screen. Now, what do you do…………..
a) Read the directions on the Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form VERY carefully; fill out the form fully; check what you filled in and then…………..
b) Click on PRINT and nine (9) pages will automatically be printed out. We suggest printing 2 copies of it all, one for mailing and one for your records …………….
c) First in the bunch of print-outs will be the filled out Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form………explanation coming in a minute……….
d) Next in the bunch of print-outs will be the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot and instruction sheet ready for your use. You may need this later (see below) so put these pages in a safe place and keep them.
e) Now sign the Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form and mail one copy (yes, the old fashioned way) to your US election board (or whatever it is called in your ‘voting state'), which will appear on the form itself with the correct address on the basis of the information you entered into the form. Keep the second copy for your records.
f) Some states permit sending the filled out Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form by fax. DA-Germany can help you find out.
NOTE: You can also enter www.VoteFromAbroad.org through the Democrats Abroad website www.DemocratsAbroad.org .
3. Getting your Overseas Absentee Ballot from your ‘voting state': The election board in your ‘voting state' should send you an Overseas Absentee Ballot after it receives the above described Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form that you filled out and mailed to your election board in your ‘voting state'.
4. What if the Overseas Absentee Ballot from your ‘voting state' does not arrive on time: Your Overseas Absentee Ballot from your ‘voting state' should arrive by mail to your address in Israel no later than October 1, 2008. If it does not, you can use the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot that was printed out together with the Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form. Remember, we told you to put it in a safe place for possible future use (see above point #2-d).
5. How to vote with the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot: Carefully read and follow the instructions on the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot, don't forget to write-in the name of the Presidential Candidate you are voting for and then get it ready to mail according to the instructions on the ballot (yes, again mailing the old fashioned way) to your election board in the US in your ‘voting state'……………………
6. How to vote with your ‘Voting State' Overseas Absentee Ballot: Carefully read and follow the instructions, then mark your choice on the ballot and get it ready for mailing to your election board in your ‘voting state' according to the instructions on the ballot…………..
7. How to mail your ‘Voting State' Overseas Absentee Ballot or the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot: Depending on the cut-off date for receiving voted Overseas Absentee Ballots in your ‘voting state' – whether it's your ‘voting state' Overseas Absentee Ballot or the Federal Write-in Overseas Absentee Ballot, you may have to mail your ballot by a faster method than EXPRESS. Several states permit faxing the voted Overseas Absentee Ballot to your election board. DA-Israel can help you find out your ‘voting state' cut-off date; what mailing method to choose if the cut-off date is close; and if you can send your voted ballot by fax.
IMPORTANT FACTS TO KNOW
1. What is your ‘voting state'?: Your ‘voting state' is the last address where you registered to vote in the US, or if you never did, then the last address where you resided in the US, or if you never did, then the last address where your parents resided in the US – even if the building or street no longer exists – some states do not accept this, DA-Germany can help you find out.
2. Another way to join the Democratic Party: You can also join the Democratic Party when you fill out the www.VoteFromAbroad.org downloadable Registration & Request for Overseas Absentee Ballot Form (see below) by checking YES on the form in answer to the question: do you want to join the Democratic Party, or YES if you are already a member. If you are or become a DA member, then you ALSO automatically are or become a member of Democrats Abroad and can vote in the DA Presidential Primary described above.
3. Democrats Abroad has the standing of a State Committee within the Democratic Party, with 22 voting electors at the Democratic Party National Nominating Convention to be held in Colorado in August 2008. Democrats Abroad also has 8 voting members on the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact your local Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany at www.demsinberlin.de or send an eMail to vote@demsinberlin.de .