Travel Goals

1. Climb to Everest Base Camp.
2. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
3. Learn to Scuba Dive.
4. Visit every continent.
5. See the Galapagos Islands.
6. Sail down the Amazon River.
7. Climb Ayer's Rock.
8. Ride the Trans-Siberian.
9. Go into space.
10. Go wild at La Tomintina.
11. See the sunrise from Mt. Fuji.
12. Gaze at Borobudor.
13. Visit the Pyramids
14. Safari in East Africa.
15. Go to the World Cup!
16. See Machu Picchu.
17. Join the Century Club.
18. Visit Antarctica.
19. Do development work.
20. See Petra Jordan.
21. Backpack the Eastern Block.
22. See the Northern Lights.
23. Vegas Baby! Vegas!
24. Greek Island hop.
25. Cycle Tuscany.
26. Visit India.
27. Lounge in the Seychelles.
28. See Morocco.
29. Oktoberfest!
30. Caravan across the Sahara.
31. Visit Tibet.
32. Fly first class.
33. Go to Israel.
34. Carnival!!!!
35. Mardi Gras!
36. Cannes Film Festival.
37. Sundance Film Festival.
38. Eat a sushi meal at NOBU
39. Pacific Island hop.
40. Spend a night in the Ice Hotel.
41. See Glacier National Park.

Book Your Travel Here!!

With the United States election less than a month away, it’s important that all Americans, home and abroad, cast their ballot. This year’s election is vital for the future of our country. There are many problems facing the United States, the financial crisis just being the most recent, and it more important than ever that we all come together and cast a ballot for the future. No matter who you want to win, what is important is that you vote.

Often people don’t vote while traveling or living abroad because they don’t know how, don’t have a fixed address, or think it is a lot of work. In the age of the internet, it is quite easy to vote in the elections while being overseas. With just a few clicks, you can get the ball rolling. There’s still time to get it done before the election this November. Here’s how to vote in this election:

Step 1- Register to vote. If you haven’t, I’m sorry, but it is too late. If you have, continue to step 2.

Step 2- Go to Federal Voter Assistance Program website.

Step 3- Check if your are military or non-military personnel.

Step 4- Choose request an absentee ballot and click on the state you are registered to vote in.

Step 5- Download the PDF form and fill it out with the appropriate information. (There are instructions.) Check how you want to receive your ballot. Most states ( but not all) will let you receive it via e-mail or fax, making it easy for those people without a fixed address. The deadline for most states is by the end of October so hurry and fill out that form!!

Step 6- Download the pre-paid postage template.

Step 7- Put your application into an evelope, attach the free postage template ,and mail.

Step 8- Wait and receive absentee ballot.

Step 9- Vote and return ballot!!!

If you have not received your ballot within two weeks of the election, you can use the online version of the ballot. (Note: You must sign a declaration saying you submitted a request for a paper ballot and have not received it yet. If you live in a state where you could only get the ballot via mail but are traveling and have no address, I suggest your request the ballot anyways and send it to a hostel. When it doesn’t get to you, you can sign the waiver without committing voter fraud and still vote in the election.)

Another way to do this is through the Overseas Vote Foundation, a non-profit, that also helps facilitate this process. You follow the same step as you would on the government site but the layout is easier to navigate. Moreover, they have teamed up with FedEx to help ensure that your precious ballot gets to your state on time. For those traveling, this website might be more helpful.

This is one of the most important elections in years so make sure you get your ballot and vote in the election. Being overseas is no excuse.

Vote 2008.

8 Responses to “How to Vote in the U.S. Election While Overseas”

1. Debo Hobo on October 8th, 2008 1:20 pm

   This is great info, because if my candidate doesn’t win I may just become an expat.

2. Theresa on October 8th, 2008 7:01 pm

   We mailed in our completed ballots yesterday. Now fingers crossed that our man wins.

3. transienttravels on October 9th, 2008 1:56 am

   that’s such great advice

4. Elizabeth on October 9th, 2008 11:37 am

   We were able to vote in the states just before we left through absentee; although they gave us the email option as well.
   Critical to note about absentee voting this year: THEY MUST RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT BY ELECTION DAY. Sorry for the all caps but this is different from previous years when you just had to have the ballot postmarked by a certain day. This year they must have your ballot in hand on the day of the election so it can be counted. I imagine that this is to prevent what happened with Bush/Gore and FL when they were waiting for oversees ballots to arrive. The only good thing about this is that it guarantees your absentee ballot will count.

5. Elizabeth on October 9th, 2008 11:37 am

   PS - Thanks for putting this together, Matt! This is critical information that everyone abroad should know.

6. NewWrldYankee on October 15th, 2008 8:14 pm

   Thanks for putting this up! I did this post a while ago, when I thought people should register. Great minds think alike, eh?

7. gerri on October 18th, 2008 1:29 pm

   Elizabeth your warning may be true of your state, but each state has it’s own rules and DEADLINES for registering and returning ballots.

   Iowa is just one example:
   “To be counted for the November 4, 2008 General
   Election, a voter’s absentee ballot must be:
   physically received in the County Auditor’s
   office by 9:00 p.m. on Election Day, or
   postmarked no later than Monday, November 3rd
   and received by noon on Monday, November 10th.”

   Better to look up your state’s deadlines at Overseas Vote Foundation’s State Specific Voter Information Directory to be sure!
   http://www.overseasvotefoundation.org

8. Michael Lock on October 30th, 2008 2:02 am

   I am British, therefore I cannot vote in your elections, however all I want to say is that I hope Barack Obama wins over there, as I have a feeling that John McCain may be dangerous as he seems to like all things to do with the military, while Mr Obama comes across as a man of peace. I will be interested to see the outcome of the elections and I shall watch the news over here on the day.

Got something to say?

Name (required)

Email Address (required)

Website

Speak your mind