• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle

Tips from Scotland – on how to make sure your absentee ballot arrives on time for the US election

Voting from overseas is really rewarding - here's how to get your vote sent in time.

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
July 22, 2020
in Lifestyle

By: Kat Cary, FL voter in Edinburgh, Scotland

Can I tell you a secret? It’s quite easy to vote overseas nowadays. I was active duty military for over a decade, and I have voted more times overseas than I have under them. It’s gotten so much easier over the years, and I’d like to share some tips on voting from overseas, and ensuring your absentee ballot arrives on time.

Request your ballot now to beat the autumn rush

First things first, register and request your ballot at https://www.votefromabroad.org. I recommend using your mobile device, as long as you have a pen and piece of paper handy, you can take a photo of your signature and get it done in one sitting. It takes about the same amount of time as reading this article. Make sure to check submission rules, primary and general election deadlines for your state or territory https://www.votefromabroad.org/states/ to identify the best voting option for you.

Request your ballot to be delivered to you by email

I recommend requesting ballot delivery by email – you can even leave two email addresses to ensure you receive your ballot – I have received both an early sample ballot, and my election ballot by email for the last 4 years and I have never had an issue with it.  Election officials are required to send out ballots 45 days before the day of the general election. Primaries, special, and run-off elections generally arrive 30 days prior to the election date. Requesting a ballot via email ensures you will receive your blank ballot with the maximum time to return it within the required timeframe.

Fill out ballot within 3 days of receiving it

It’s so important to turn in your completed absentee ballot as soon as possible. My voting state emails sample ballots, so I am ready to fill in my ballot as it arrives, but you can also access a sample ballot via Ballotpedia.

Concerned you haven’t received your blank ballot in time? You can fill out a ‘back-up ballot’, officially called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) by following the instructions at www.votefromabroad.org/fwab.

Return your ballot electronically if your state allows it

There are currently 29 states that accept voted ballots by email, fax, or online upload. This eliminates a lot of hassle of relying on the postal services, paying for expensive courier fees, or using the services at your local US embassy, but there are a few things to keep in mind for submitting a ballot electronically:

RelatedPosts

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Saturday 6 March 2021

Lucky Numbers and Horoscopes for today, 6 March 2021

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Friday 5 March 2021

Lucky Numbers and Horoscopes for today, 5 March 2021

  • If you are using an online upload, please make sure your connection is secure to maintain anonymity.
  • If your state only allows return by Fax (not Email) and you don’t have access to a fax machine, there are several free fax apps that can be found via your mobile platform.
  • Submissions by fax or email will not be sealed, requiring you to waive your right to a secret ballot, but your Local Election Official (LEO) is required to separate any identifying information after verifying the signature, and no one should be able to tell how you voted.

No matter what method you choose to vote from abroad, you should receive a confirmation email that your ballot has been received and counted. I love receiving that email – I consider it a personalised ‘I Voted’ sticker. Voting from overseas is really rewarding. Staying involved in the democratic process while living overseas has given me greater perspective in these troubled times. I find it very empowering when I make my voice heard by taking part in the democratic process.

Related: Donald Trump wishes Ghislaine Maxwell ‘well’ ahead of high-profile trial

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

How To Make: Chicken A La King

How To Make: Chicken à la King

Ex-minister says it’s ‘morally wrong’ to cut NHS pay as Tory rebellion brews

Mass slow clap urged in protest at ‘miserly’ 1% NHS pay rise proposal

Credit;PA

One per cent pay rise half of what staff were promised, NHS trusts claim

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.