This is the most important step in voting this year: Getting your ballot back to your local election office, in time to be counted for the Nov. 5 election. We've compiled some instructions and tips below to help Democrats cast their votes for Harris/Walz (as well as Congress, and ballot initiatives to protect women's reproductive health in some states). Please read them carefully to ensure your ballot is received and accepted. And if you haven't registered to vote/requested your ballot yet, it's not too late!

Go to: https://www.votefromabroad.org now.

If you requested your ballot by email, it should arrive by email around Sept. 21.

#democrats #VoteFromAbroad #DemocratsAbroad #kamala

 

  So, if you don't receive your ballot by email by Sept. 24, we suggest you contact your local election office by phone or email. The contact information is at VoteFromAbroad.org at   "Your State Rules" (scroll down to “Find Your Election Office”).

  You can check your state’s rules for ballot return at https://www.votefromabroad.org. They will specify electronic return, fax, or mail return.

  You can also see which states allow electronic, fax, or mail return by clicking this link: https://www.scribd.com/document/768490201/Ballot-Return

ELECTRONIC RETURN: If you have the option of online return or fax return for your ballot, please do that. 

FAX: If you don’t have access to a fax machine, you can email your ballot using a free fax app like faxzero.com, and they will convert it to a fax and send it to the number you specify.

Alternatively, voters can utilize a scan/email-to-fax service provided by the U.S government. You can email a scanned ballot to [email protected]. Fax cover sheet is here: https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/TransmissionCoversheet.pdf

They will convert your ballot into a fax and send it to the number you specify.  FVAP can get overloaded closer to Election Day, so we recommend that you use them only up to Oct. 30.

If you prefer to use a real fax machine, there is one at Kita’s Internet in Merida Centro at Calle 61 #502 x 64 y 62. Opening hours are daily from 7am - 11pm. 

MAIL RETURN:

● Twenty-three states require ballots to be returned by mail only!

These states are: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 

● The easy, safe, and free way to return your ballot by mail is to take it to the U.S. Consulate in Merida no later than Tuesday, Oct. 1. It can take at least a month to arrive at your local election office, so Oct. 1 is the cut-off. The U.S. Consulate is open from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. You don’t have to make an appointment or stand in line. 

 ● If you can’t get to the Consulate in Merida, you can courier your ballot to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City by Oct. 1, or courier it using DHL or FedEx directly to your local election office in the U.S. Ask for a postmark. (Cancun and Playa del Carmen have U.S. consular agencies, but we don't recommend dropping ballots there because they send their mail to Merida and ballots may not arrive before the Merida Consulate's Oct. 1 cut-off).

 ● After Oct. 1, everyone who must return their ballot by mail should courier it to their local election office (to a street address, not a P.O. Box). DHL is running discounts in Mexico; please check with your local office, and compare with other couriers and mailing services. 

● Or if you're traveling to the U.S., you can put your ballot in a mailbox there.

 ● If you need in-person help, Democrats Abroad will offer ballot assistance at the Merida English Library from 9:30 am to noon on Sept. 20 and 23, and Oct. 1, 11, and 16. The Merida English Library is in Centro at Calle 53 #524 x 66 y 68. Please try to print out and bring with you your ballot and any other election materials in your emailed ballot package because the library’s printer often isn’t working. We use Quick Digital, with outlets throughout Merida, or Office Max, for printing. 

 ● You can also contact us at [email protected]

Please VOTE NOW, so we can all celebrate on Nov. 5!!!

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