ALKHOBAR, 26 September 2006 — The power of the Internet is being harnessed to help US citizens living abroad register to vote for increasingly crucial midterm elections. US citizens working in Saudi Arabia will be hard hit by changes in taxation on overseas Americans. The so-called “Tax Increase Prevention Act,” which actually increases taxes for Americans living outside the United States, has raised a furor among overseas Americans and in the American corporate world. Many Americans abroad are also struggling with the effects of US government foreign policies. Now, with the upcoming midterm elections, overseas Americans have an opportunity to cast their votes to either return elected representatives to office or boot them out.
The organization, Democrats Abroad, and its honorary chair, former US President Jimmy Carter, are urging Americans living abroad to register to vote in the upcoming House and Senate races.
“It is imperative that every American citizen living abroad join us in this movement to change the course of our government by registering to vote and participating fully in the electoral process,” Carter said.
Through a new website developed this year, http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org, citizens living abroad still have time, until Sept. 30, to register to vote, request their ballots and, potentially, make a difference in the upcoming elections.
At its website, Democrats Abroad (www.democratsabroad.org), has posted a video message from Carter speaking directly to overseas Americans worldwide.
“On Nov. 7 this year, Americans everywhere will vote for their senators and representatives in Congress,” says Carter. “ The elections are of momentous historical importance. I personally have visited more than 120 countries and what I’ve seen lately is a dramatic decline in America’s reputation around the globe and nobody is better placed to realize this than Americans like you living abroad. The outcome of the November elections will either endorse or reject Washington’s current policy. Please join me and millions of Americans in voting for a brighter future for America. I invite you to visit VoteFromAbroad.org and request your absentee ballot today.”
Unfortunately, many US citizens living abroad do not know that they retain their right to vote regardless of how long they have lived outside of the United States and even if they have never resided in the US. Citizens living abroad who have lived in the US can vote using their last residence before departing the US. If they never lived in the US, most states allow citizens to vote using their parent(s) last US address. In order to vote in the November elections, all US citizens living abroad need to register and request their ballots.
Democrats Abroad has made it easier for Americans living abroad and supporting any US political party to exercise their right to vote. Using http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org, US citizens answer six customized screens of questions. The answers are automatically added to the voter registration form, fax cover sheet and Federal Write-In Ballot, which are then downloaded, signed and mailed to the address of the local election official.
Many US citizens living abroad may worry that it is too late to receive their ballot. VoteFromAbroad.org solves this problem. It is the only voter registration website where citizens receive a Federal Write-In Ballot in addition to their voter registration form. The Federal Write-In Ballot is a back-up ballot used by citizens living abroad who register as voters outside the US and who do not receive their state ballot by Oct. 1, 2006. This ballot is only valid if mailed from outside the US, except for military personnel. Using this ballot, voters can write in votes for House and Senate candidates or the political party they want to see hold the office.
It is not only the Democrats who are working to convince Americans living abroad to vote. The Republicans have mounted their own efforts. Under the rallying cry, “Keep the Majority!” Republicans Abroad (www.republicansabroad) is attempting to mobilize Americans overseas to support Republican candidates in the US elections.
According to Republicans Abroad, “more than six million Americans live abroad — a number larger than the populations of 24 states in the Union. During the 2000 election, President George W. Bush carried the state of Florida by 537 votes from Republicans overseas. In addition, Republicans won two Senate seats and six seats in the US House of Representatives because of Republican absentee ballots cast from overseas.”
The US Embassy in Riyadh is also participating in the drive to get US citizens registered for the November elections. The US mission reminds Americans abroad that each US state has its own regulations and deadlines for registering and requesting absentee ballots. Some states may require receipt of requests as early as 30 days before the election. Information about each state’s procedures is available on the Internet at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/vagchapter3.html. Information about state’s registration and voting deadlines is available at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/primarycal.html. Also, overseas Americans should check the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) homepage at http://www.fvap.gov to find more information and guidance on absentee voting.
The Consular Section’s American Citizen Services Unit at the US Embassy Riyadh and US Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran can accept election materials to be mailed to the local election official in a voter’s home county, although many states now allow overseas voters to fax in their registration and absentee ballot requests. Some states will fax out blank ballots to overseas voters, and a smaller number of states allow overseas voters to fax back the voted ballot. A few states allow the use of e-mail. See state’s rules for the use of fax or e-mail at http://www.fvap.gov/ivas/fvap_state_menu.html. Overseas voters who are required to mail in their voted ballot should plan to allow up to three weeks for delivery via US diplomatic pouch or international mail.