From the American Consulate: Final Reminder to VOTE!

Warden Message: Final Reminder to VOTE!
October 22, 2008

American citizens should vote now in the November 4, 2008 presidential and general elections. If you registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot by your state’s deadline, you should have already received your state absentee ballot. Please return your marked ballot now!

Ballot hasn’t arrived?

If your ballot has not arrived, use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot(FWAB). The FWAB serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials. The FWAB is available at www.fvap.gov or from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If your regular state ballot arrives after you have mailed the FWAB, complete and mail the state ballot as well.

Returning your ballot

Voted ballots and FWABs may be mailed to your local voting officials in the United States through first-class international mail through the Chinese postal system. You may also drop your ballot at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate served by an express courier company. The deadline to use this service at the US Consulate Guangzhou is TUESDAY, October 28. You may also drop your ballot with the courier service office in various cities in China. See information at https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org. This is a free service.

Some states also accept completed ballots by fax or e-mail, and some allow registration and voting of the FWAB as late as election day. NOTE: States differ in their deadlines for timely receipt of ballots. Go to www.FVAP.gov to view the specific requirements of your state, and to locate the address of your voting office in your home state and county. If your state allows you to fax your ballot, the toll-free fax number which you can use from China is: 10-800-712-0855. If you fax your ballot, you must also mail it in.

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou is available to answer questions about absentee voting. To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, please send an e-mail to VoteGuangzhou@state.gov.