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Andee Goldman
Overseas Voting Consultant

American Overseas the Door Is Closing for Voting

Photo courtesy of the US Embassy Israel

There are just 18 days until the November 5th General Elections that will determine if Vice President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump will take over the White House.  Many overseas voters question if their vote will be counted and if politicians respect election results.

As overseas voters, we can vote not only for President, but Congress, and in some states for Senate.  These elected officials create laws that impact overseas voters.  Are you aware that as of May 8th, 2024, at least 94 members of Congress have called for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities in Israel and occupied Palestine.

By voting YOU can HIRE or FIRE elected officials.

Since every state has different guidelines and deadlines, if you want your vote to count, make sure you register and return your ballot according to your state, not what your friend says.  Check your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov for guidance and carefully read all instructions in your voting packet.

Take charge of returning your ballot in time.  If your state requires returning your ballot via mail, make sure your ballot is return by your state’s guidelines.  Alabama requires postmarked by Nov 5, 2024 and must still be received by the 7th day after the election.  Connecticut requires ballots to be received by 8 PM, Nov 5, 2024.  New York requires ballots to be postmarked by Nov 5, 2024; however, it must still be received by the 13th day after the election.

Returning ballots by international mail offers no guarantee the ballot will be received on time.  The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors, have reached out to USPS multiple times without resolution, calling the problems “not one-off mistakes.” They emphasized the urgent need for corrective action, stating, “Failure to do so will risk limiting voter participation and trust in the election process.”

Many voters have expressed their disappointment in international mail.  Personally, I paid for international tracking express mail, with documentation of receipt from Israel to Minnesota.  For 10 days the mail disappeared off the screen. When tracking, it didn’t show if it was in Israel or America.  What if it was my ballot?  It could have been received after my state’s deadline and my vote would not have counted!!

Dropping your postage paid ballot at the US Embassy could take up to 4 weeks for your ballot to be received in America. Will your ballot be received in time for your vote to count?

Allowing others to mail your ballot for you might not work.  In 2016, IVoteIsrael accepted ballot envelopes from voters to be mailed in America.  Turns out Americans in Israel complained that a group promising to help them vote in the presidential election failed to deliver ballots on time or even at all.

“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls.”  Peggy Noonan

Many voters are taking control and making sure their ballot is received on time.  If their state requires return by mail, they are sending their ballot via courier.  In fact, if two or more are sending their ballots to the same address, their election office might allow one courier package with multiple individually sealed ballots in their own envelope, according to their state’s guidelines.  It is highly recommended you verify your election official will accept these ballots.  https://www.fvap.gov/search-offices

DHL-Israel is offering a 30% discount for sending a package to the US.  This is totally nonpartisan.  Promocode– USA20 (30% off website prices)  Expiration date– 30.11.2024     You have 2 options to send export shipment with DHL-

 “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson

If you are registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot prior to your state’s registration deadline, but have not yet received your ballot, you can complete and return a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) and return it to your local election office.  The FWAB can be returned as allowed by your state using the same methods as mentioned above.  If your regular ballot arrives later, complete and return it as well.  Your FWAB will only be counted if your regular ballot does not reach local election officials by your state’s deadline.  Your vote will not be counted twice.  https://www.fvap.gov/fwab-privacy-notice

If you want to vote and have not registered, voter registration deadlines vary by state.  Some states require voters to be registered 30 days before an election.  Check the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.FVAP.gov ) to find the deadline in your state.

Fill out the form online and request your ballot to be emailed.  Upon completion save as PDF and print 4 pages: 1) state’s deadline, 2) instruction for return and election office contact information, 3) Transmission Cover Sheet, and 4)  FPCA (Federal Post Card Application).  Since time is of the essence, after you complete your registration form, email it to your election office to make sure it has been filed out correctly.

Some states accept email of registration and ballot; while others require registration by mail so they will have a “wet signature” and will avoid voter fraud.  One voter had her personal registration and her 4 children who were born overseas. Five votes. She was grateful when she reached out to her election official that he mentioned her children’s forms were not filled out correctly; in section 6 they needed to make a statement that they are a child born overseas to an American parent (provide her name), and the voting address was her last address in America.  With that additional information, her state would accept their original registration forms in one courier envelope.  Within 4 business days after she submitted their registration, their ballots were received by email. Plenty of time to return ballots by mail.

“Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has as much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress or any President.” – Barbara Boxer

As a voter, you can check the status of your voted ballot.  Go to https://www.fvap.gov/, click on your state, to the right column, click CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR VOTED BALLOT.  Many election offices will be counting overseas ballots closer to November 5th.  If you do not see your ballot is counted, contact your election office or your Sec of State.   I received my overseas ballot on September 20th and returned it on September 26th.  My election office immediately sent me an email that they received my ballot.  On October 16th, I noticed my ballot was not counted and immediately emailed my election office.  That same day I received an email that it should be counted within a week.  If not, to let them know.

In all the years I have helped overseas voters, I have communicated with different Sec of States and election officials.  The customer service and caring about overseas voters have always been over and above what a voter would expect.

Need help or have a question, help is as near as a phone call or email.  With 18 days until the November 5th election, contact your election official!!  https://www.fvap.gov/search-offices

Your vote can make a difference!!

“We are not helpless. The fire is still burning. Please go out and vote this November. Too many people have died and sacrificed so much for us to have our voice, we have to use it. Get in formation. Use our voices to do something great for our children.” Beyoncé, American Singer

About the Author
Andee Goldman moved to Israel in 2006 from Las Vegas, Nevada. Since 2008, as a nonpartisan, she has volunteered helping and encouraging Americans overseas to vote in America's Federal Elections. The 99th Congress (1985-1986) passed the bill that gives Americans overseas the right to vote YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE https://www.fvap.gov/ As an Israeli, she has become a history buff and enjoys sharing her experience and travels around Israel and the world!! Andee is available to answer your voting questions at: votingfromabroad@gmail.com
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