BY FERNANDO RODRIQUEZ
Most U.S. citizens living outside the United States are eligible to vote via absentee ballot for the American elections which occur in early November. The first step is to register via a special federal form for overseas voters. This form takes 6 - 8 minutes to fill out, and what's needed are the following: 1) Your state identification number or social security number, 2) Your address in the state where you were last living before leaving the U.S.
The website recommends that you submit a new form (called an FPCA) every calendar year — and each time you move to a new address. The Center for US Voters Abroad is an independent nonprofit not affiliated with the U.S. government or any political party. Their mission is to help Americans living or traveling abroad to participate in US elections. They are funded by foundations and individual donors who share that very same goal.
Americans living abroad can request a ballot via an official government form, called the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Their website will walk you through the process of filling out this form, and then show you how to send it to the correct local election official.
United States citizens over the age of 18 who will be abroad during an election–whether temporarily or permanently–are eligible to vote by absentee ballot. American citizens who were born abroad and have never resided in the U.S. are also eligible to vote, depending on the U.S. state where their parents last lived. Consult their Federal Voting Assistance Program list to review eligibility by state. To request your ballot, you will need to indicate a “voting residence”. This should be the address of your last “domicile”, or the place you considered your permanent home in the U.S. before you moved to Mexico. Despite the similar terminology, registering to vote at a “voting residence” is not the same as claiming residency. For more information on choosing your voting address, refer to this Federal Voting Assistance Program guide on their website.
You need a voting residence to vote by absentee ballot even if you are only voting for federal offices. Your election office needs your exact voting residence address to determine which offices and candidates you are eligible to vote for and to send you the appropriate ballot for your voting precinct. This residence may remain valid even if you qualify under any of the following:
1) You no longer own property or have other ties to that state.
2) Your intent to return to that state is uncertain.
3) Your previous address is no longer a recognized residential address.
Voting in an election for federal offices often may not be used as the sole basis of determining residency for the purpose of imposing state and local taxes. If you cannot remember the address where you last physically resided, check old tax records, passports, or family correspondence. Sometimes election offices can help identify your address if you were previously registered.
To claim a new legal residence or domicile, consult legal counsel as there may be other factors to consider, such as tax implications. Placing an overseas address in Section 2 of the form may automatically disqualify you. Voting rights vary by state for U.S. citizens born overseas who have never established residence in the United States. In some states, U.S. citizens 18 years or older who were born abroad but have never resided in the U.S. are eligible to vote absentee.
If neither of your parents is from one of these states, it is possible that you do not currently have voting rights. However, additional states are working to pass legislation that will allow citizens born overseas who have never established residency in the U.S. to vote in the state in which their parents are eligible. Their website offers information to help you understand the absentee voting process, learn how to complete your absentee ballot request, and successfully cast your absentee ballot.
Wherever U.S. citizens go, FVAP ensures their voices are heard. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works
to ensure Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to do so, successfully – from anywhere in the world.
A growing number of states now allow U.S. citizens, who were born abroad but never resided in the United States to vote using the address where a parent or other relative is eligible to vote. Visit FVAP.gov to see a current list of states that allow these U.S. citizens to vote.
It’s important to note that the voting residence address you use must be an address in the United States. Forms that list a P.O. box may be automatically disqualified. You can also get absentee voting assistance through your local election office. Requesting an absentee ballot is easy. Just follow these simple steps. 1) You will need a printer to complete this process. If you do not have a printer, save the forms and complete them when a printer is available. 2) You'll need Adobe Read version 6.0 or higher which you can download online. No personal information will be archived at any point.
The website is very easy to navigate and is very clear in guiding anyone through the maze of getting registered, understanding the form, and making your vote count.
