Overseas citizen voters!

[gigem]

And also military voters.... has everyone been succesful in getting their ballots mailed in? I still vote "in" Texas and the emailed ballots are annoying (print on an envelope, really?!), but I found a solution and our local US Embassy extended the deadline that they would mail the ballots for us, so got mine in last week.

Anyone had issues? I had trouble when I was in West Africa. The embassy was in another city but luckily someone on heading out on vacation mailed it for me. 

[rupertpenny]

My state (Florida) allows faxed ballots so that's what I did. I could have also mailed it using a provided envelope. HK post is reliable so I wouldn't have worried about it getting to FL, but I guess the mail isn't a sure thing everywhere.

[gigem]

Oct 18, 2016 6:35:27 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

My state (Florida) allows faxed ballots so that's what I did. I could have also mailed it using a provided envelope. HK post is reliable so I wouldn't have worried about it getting to FL, but I guess the mail isn't a sure thing everywhere.

Oh that's cool!

This year I only had the choice of the emailed ballot, we don't have mail service where I am, and our company post office box was temporarily suspended because of customs issues. Ideally I would asked to have one mailed to me and then the envelopes would be included.

I wish we could just vote in person. The French consulate here has in-person voting for registered citizens.

[traveljunkie13]

We are military living overseas and just sent ours yesterday. I also vote "in" TX and the mailing thing was really confusing. The post office on base just told us to tape the page with the postal stuff on it to a regular large envelope. No clue if we did it right! We were supposed to get free express mail but the post office was out of envelopes so hopefully it gets there in time!

[gigem]

Oct 18, 2016 7:10:54 GMT -5 traveljunkie13 said:

We are military living overseas and just sent ours yesterday. I also vote "in" TX and the mailing thing was really confusing. The post office on base just told us to tape the page with the postal stuff on it to a regular large envelope. No clue if we did it right! We were supposed to get free express mail but the post office was out of envelopes so hopefully it gets there in time!

Ahhh so glad to know I wasn't the only one having trouble! In the end I glue-sticked the printed "envelope" onto my letter sized envelope ..... hope it doesn't get torn off. No express for me either but the Embassy said before Oct 19th we should be okay.

[gigem]

Oct 18, 2016 9:59:31 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I'm so confused by this envelope-printing thing you guys are talking about. That sounds--non-sensical.

I didn't realize how lucky I was with my options--my Boston suburb let us submit our ballot by email, fax, or mail. I emailed it in a few weeks ago.

It is! I think I read the instructions about 15x (exaggerating a bit). So if I had asked for the ballot to be mailed to me it would come with a ballot, a secrecy envelope, and a security return envelope that we sign. Put them inside one another, seal, sign and mail it off. But if it is the email ballot then the instructions are to of course forgo the secrecy envelope for the ballot but we must either print the return envelope or print the information on a piece of paper, wrap it around a normal blank mailing envelope and sign- it if not our ballots wont be accepted. Attaching I guess either with tape or glue... they didn't bother to go that far haha.

[kaybee85]

I sent it in the mail yesterday. Also from Florida, but I don't know where I'd have access to a fax machine (H didn't seem to think the lab would appreciate is faxing to overseas number). The envelope i was sent to print only covered postage in the US, so I just used my own and paid the 2.50€.

[expatjen]

I vote in Hawaii and we had the option to email, fax or mail our ballots in. I downloaded the e-mailed ballot, filled it out, scanned it and e-mailed it back. It was super simple. The only additional step was to sign a paper saying I waived my right to a secret ballot because it was being emailed back.

[gigem]

Oct 19, 2016 8:43:34 GMT -5 expatjen said:

I vote in Hawaii and we had the option to email, fax or mail our ballots in. I downloaded the e-mailed ballot, filled it out, scanned it and e-mailed it back. It was super simple. The only additional step was to sign a paper saying I waived my right to a secret ballot because it was being emailed back.

I wish tx would get on board with this!

[Cicero]

North Carolina allows for email and fax if you're overseas so I did that.

[origami]

MI ballot here. They emailed it to to me but I had to mail it back. No email or fax on the return, not that I have a fax machine anyway, but at least I could use a regular old envelope. Funny how different each state does things!

I would love to email my ballot but I get nervous about hackers voting. Is that a non-problem? I just got another yahoo email about changing all my security info so it's on my mind.

[jennybee1018]

I voted! I vote in PA so I was not missing out this year!!! I don't really think we're a swing state (usually blue) but don't want to take any chances! 

I also had the secret ballot envelope and then the envelope template that I was supposed to print on an actual envelope (right.....). So I did the same as you guys and taped it on a large envelope and sent it in! The instructions said that the envelope template has our special ID on it, so it'll identify whose ballot it is. So I figured it was important! 

I'm lucky to work for a US university here, so they send mail weekly to the home campus, and then the mailroom will put it in US mail. I need to log in and see if they received my ballot! 

[mrsukyankee]

PA voter here. I had to do the secret envelope and all. It wasn't a huge deal, just something I had to read a few times to make sure I was doing the right thing. I sent mine out two weeks ago.

[gigem]

Oct 21, 2016 0:23:06 GMT -5 jennybee1018 said:

I voted! I vote in PA so I was not missing out this year!!! I don't really think we're a swing state (usually blue) but don't want to take any chances! 

I also had the secret ballot envelope and then the envelope template that I was supposed to print on an actual envelope (right.....). So I did the same as you guys and taped it on a large envelope and sent it in! The instructions said that the envelope template has our special ID on it, so it'll identify whose ballot it is. So I figured it was important! 

I'm lucky to work for a US university here, so they send mail weekly to the home campus, and then the mailroom will put it in US mail. I need to log in and see if they received my ballot! 

Good work! And yes the Tx ones had a bar code and our name up by the return address area. Thats nice that you've got a way to get mail home, that is my biggest difficulty here.

[gigem]

Oct 21, 2016 2:02:00 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

PA voter here. I had to do the secret envelope and all. It wasn't a huge deal, just something I had to read a few times to make sure I was doing the right thing. I sent mine out two weeks ago.

Yes definitely has to read it a few times, I was worried to mess up and the ballot vwouldnt arrive or be counted but I guess we will never know....

[dutchgirl678]

OR voters here. We got our ballots in the mail last week. Filled them out and my husband went and put enough postage on them to send back to the States from the Netherlands and mailed them out this Tuesday. There is also an option to do it by email, but we figured there is still plenty of time to mail, so we went with that.

[cattledogkisses]

I filled mine out last night. We have the option of mailing or scanning and sending them in, so H is going to set up our scanner tonight so we can do that. Easier than mailing.

[GilliC]

I let TX email me my ballot one time, thinking "Oh! How convenient!" ...and then they sent me a bunch of MS Word documents from a super old version, so the margins were all screwed up when I opened it in the latest version on my work computer. And yeah, they want you to PRINT THE ENVELOPE?! I actually have experience printing envelopes, so I managed to pull it off after a few tries, but it was such a pain in the ass!

I now strongly suggest to new overseas voters that they just request the ballot by mail. Waiting for it to show up is nerve-wracking, but in the end it's so much easier than being forced to print it out yourself.

[gigem]

Oct 22, 2016 6:20:37 GMT -5 GilliC said:

I let TX email me my ballot one time, thinking "Oh! How convenient!" ...and then they sent me a bunch of MS Word documents from a super old version, so the margins were all screwed up when I opened it in the latest version on my work computer. And yeah, they want you to PRINT THE ENVELOPE?! I actually have experience printing envelopes, so I managed to pull it off after a few tries, but it was such a pain in the ass!

I now strongly suggest to new overseas voters that they just request the ballot by mail. Waiting for it to show up is nerve-wracking, but in the end it's so much easier than being forced to print it out yourself.

Yes next time i am definitely going to request it by mail, dont know where in the world we will be but in worst case i can send it to a colleague who works on rotation and can bring it to me. Stupid envelope, silly tx!!

[Cicero]

Oct 22, 2016 6:20:37 GMT -5 GilliC said:

I let TX email me my ballot one time, thinking "Oh! How convenient!" ...and then they sent me a bunch of MS Word documents from a super old version, so the margins were all screwed up when I opened it in the latest version on my work computer. And yeah, they want you to PRINT THE ENVELOPE?! I actually have experience printing envelopes, so I managed to pull it off after a few tries, but it was such a pain in the ass!

I now strongly suggest to new overseas voters that they just request the ballot by mail. Waiting for it to show up is nerve-wracking, but in the end it's so much easier than being forced to print it out yourself.

If I'd requested it by mail I wouldn't have voted. We don't have a postal address and mail takes around two months to get to us.

[origami]

Oct 22, 2016 6:20:37 GMT -5 GilliC said:

I let TX email me my ballot one time, thinking "Oh! How convenient!" ...and then they sent me a bunch of MS Word documents from a super old version, so the margins were all screwed up when I opened it in the latest version on my work computer. And yeah, they want you to PRINT THE ENVELOPE?! I actually have experience printing envelopes, so I managed to pull it off after a few tries, but it was such a pain in the ass!

I now strongly suggest to new overseas voters that they just request the ballot by mail. Waiting for it to show up is nerve-wracking, but in the end it's so much easier than being forced to print it out yourself.

ugh. I dont even have Word. Why do people assume everyone has Word?! (I use google docs, but still.) my emailed ballot was a PDF thankfully. PDFs are the way to go since you can click the ovals and they fill in. But they always send 8.5x11 size ballots when they should know most people use A4s overseas. At least it's close.

[gibbylod]

I got an email saying my ballot was ready but when I followed the link and entered my info to print it out it said "No Ballot Found" I tried to call but only get one of those automated messages and no matter which option I choose I have not been able to speak to an actual person (I hate those automated systems!!).

Maybe you guys can answer my question: It just happens that I'll be in California (where I am registered normally) at the time of the elections. Do you know if I can vote in person even though I was originally registered to vote from abroad? Or do you know of a number I can call and speak to an ACTUAL PERSON and ask?

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 26, 2016 11:24:15 GMT -5 gibbylod said:

I got an email saying my ballot was ready but when I followed the link and entered my info to print it out it said "No Ballot Found" I tried to call but only get one of those automated messages and no matter which option I choose I have not been able to speak to an actual person (I hate those automated systems!!).

Maybe you guys can answer my question: It just happens that I'll be in California (where I am registered normally) at the time of the elections. Do you know if I can vote in person even though I was originally registered to vote from abroad? Or do you know of a number I can call and speak to an ACTUAL PERSON and ask?

I emailed my person in charge of the electoral stuff in my district and she was quite quick to answer. There is a form you can print out to use even if you can't get your official ballot. I saw it on FB once but don't have access to it in my phone. I'll look for it tomorrow.

[gibbylod]

Oct 26, 2016 12:25:24 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Oct 26, 2016 11:24:15 GMT -5 gibbylod said:

I got an email saying my ballot was ready but when I followed the link and entered my info to print it out it said "No Ballot Found" I tried to call but only get one of those automated messages and no matter which option I choose I have not been able to speak to an actual person (I hate those automated systems!!).

Maybe you guys can answer my question: It just happens that I'll be in California (where I am registered normally) at the time of the elections. Do you know if I can vote in person even though I was originally registered to vote from abroad? Or do you know of a number I can call and speak to an ACTUAL PERSON and ask?

I emailed my person in charge of the electoral stuff in my district and she was quite quick to answer. There is a form you can print out to use even if you can't get your official ballot. I saw it on FB once but don't have access to it in my phone. I'll look for it tomorrow.

Excellent! Thank you! I'll check it out.

[alleinesein]

Oct 26, 2016 11:24:15 GMT -5 gibbylod said:

I got an email saying my ballot was ready but when I followed the link and entered my info to print it out it said "No Ballot Found" I tried to call but only get one of those automated messages and no matter which option I choose I have not been able to speak to an actual person (I hate those automated systems!!).

Maybe you guys can answer my question: It just happens that I'll be in California (where I am registered normally) at the time of the elections. Do you know if I can vote in person even though I was originally registered to vote from abroad? Or do you know of a number I can call and speak to an ACTUAL PERSON and ask?

What county are you registered in for California? You should be able to contact the registrar of voters.

If you are a VBM voter you can vote at your local poll on election day with a provisional ballot. You will have to sign an affidavit and your ballot will be one of the last ones counted because they manually verify all of your info.

The CA deadline for VBM requests is Nov 1st so you may still be able to request a ballot by mail.  You just missed the registration cut off; it was the 24th.

[mrsukyankee]

gibbylod, here it is: www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fwab2013.pdf

[gigem]

Oct 23, 2016 2:44:36 GMT -5 origami said:

Oct 22, 2016 6:20:37 GMT -5 GilliC said:

I let TX email me my ballot one time, thinking "Oh! How convenient!" ...and then they sent me a bunch of MS Word documents from a super old version, so the margins were all screwed up when I opened it in the latest version on my work computer. And yeah, they want you to PRINT THE ENVELOPE?! I actually have experience printing envelopes, so I managed to pull it off after a few tries, but it was such a pain in the ass!

I now strongly suggest to new overseas voters that they just request the ballot by mail. Waiting for it to show up is nerve-wracking, but in the end it's so much easier than being forced to print it out yourself.

ugh. I dont even have Word. Why do people assume everyone has Word?! (I use google docs, but still.) my emailed ballot was a PDF thankfully. PDFs are the way to go since you can click the ovals and they fill in. But they always send 8.5x11 size ballots when they should know most people use A4s overseas. At least it's close.

the A4 vs 8.5x11 always causes me issues when printing the stupid "envelope" thing!! i have to play around with , stretch, fit to page etc etc. i'm always worried my votes won't be counted, simply because of these paper sizing issues (do they think that expats leave Tx with big stacks of 8.5x11 paper? honestly i have thought about bringing a pack sometime but last thing on my mind in reality)

[GilliC]

Oct 29, 2016 23:55:16 GMT -5 gigem said:

Oct 23, 2016 2:44:36 GMT -5 origami said:

ugh. I dont even have Word. Why do people assume everyone has Word?! (I use google docs, but still.) my emailed ballot was a PDF thankfully. PDFs are the way to go since you can click the ovals and they fill in. But they always send 8.5x11 size ballots when they should know most people use A4s overseas. At least it's close.

the A4 vs 8.5x11 always causes me issues when printing the stupid "envelope" thing!! i have to play around with , stretch, fit to page etc etc. i'm always worried my votes won't be counted, simply because of these paper sizing issues (do they think that expats leave Tx with big stacks of 8.5x11 paper? honestly i have thought about bringing a pack sometime but last thing on my mind in reality)

The year I was supposed to print my ballot, I happened to have not only some sheets of Letter paper, I also had a few #10 envelopes!

Since we'd expected to move back to the US after China, we didn't get to go through the stuff we had in storage before it got shipped to Norway. Some of it was a PITA, but some of it ended up oddly useful!

[gigem]

GilliC So many things we dig up on expat that end up being useful several yrs down the road! For me it is usu random tj maxx gifts my mom gave me and im pleasantly surprised to find them. I will make an effort to stock up on a few packs paper/envelopes this next trip to Us. My mom was so worried about it that she wanted to mail some to a rotational friend and bring to me .

[origami]

I still don't have 8.5x11 paper but after a year I finally remembered to bring over US envelopes. Not because of the size but because here the envelopes don't have anything to lick shut (or the sticky strip). It took me months before I found their special envelope glue. Their envelopes also open on the short side. It's such a random thing but I hate everything about their envelopes here. I stuff A4s in US envelopes now.

Now I'm wondering how my ballot was counted since it's on an A4. The machines in my city only read the real ballots, from what I understand. Is someone manually entering my choices on a real ballot or is there some machine that reads all kinds of PDF printouts... now I'm curious.