Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

September 24, 2008

Overseas and Military Voting
Easier than ever before – No reason not to vote

(Redwood City, CA)  “Any voter residing overseas or in the military can vote in the upcoming November Presidential General Election.   You can vote from anywhere in the world,” said Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County.

“San Mateo County received its first voted overseas ballot on September 19,” said Slocum. At this time, there are 2,357 San Mateo County voters who qualify as temporarily or indefinitely residing overseas, or are in the military or are military dependents.   The count continues to climb on a daily basis.  “We’ve had many inquiries from enlisted men and women stationed overseas, international students and civilians (and their families) that work for international corporations and live abroad.”

The official voting period for military and civilian voters who live overseas opened on September 5, 2008, well in advance of the early voting period in California that will open on October 6.”

The California Elections Code permits the Chief Elections Officer to mail, fax or email an Official Ballot to overseas or military voters.  But it does not allow voters to cast their ballots by email.  Voters do have a number of options, however, and the options suit both the well-prepared and the last minute voter.

First, voters should register using the Federal Voting Assistance Program, www.fvap.gov and request a fax or email transmission of your ballot.  This is the quickest way to receive your ballot.  For additional election information, voters should go to www.shapethefuture.org.  

Overseas and uniformed voters have four ways to cast their ballots:

FAX:  Voters can fax their voted ballots to (650) 312-5348 or use the free FVAP electronic fax transmission service.  The local FVAP fax number can be found at the following URL: http://www.fvap.gov/contact/toll-free-fax/index.html.   Voters who fax their ballot must complete and sign the Oath of Voter form as their votes will no longer be secret; this gives the Elections staff permission to view the ballot and cast it accordingly.  The Oath of Voter form will be sent with the Official Ballot.

MAIL:  Voters can mail their ballots to:

 San Mateo County Registration-Elections
 40 Tower Road
 San Mateo, CA 94402  

FWAB (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot) Program:  The Overseas Vote Foundation operates program called the FWAB.  FWAB is an alternative ballot for overseas and uniformed services voters whose ballots are late. To qualify and use it you must be able to state truthfully that 1) you are an overseas voter OR a uniformed services voter, spouse or dependent, 2) you sent in the registration/ballot form to receive and absentee (Vote by Mail Ballot) by the state deadline, and 3) your absentee ballot has not arrived yet. 

If these statements are true, you are eligible to use the FWAB.  For more information, go to: https://military.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/FwabStart.htm and watch
the YouTube video on how to get your ballot and what the steps are to voting overseas.

FED EX:  Overseas voters can also take advantage of a brand new FedEx program designed specifically for them. The program allows an overseas voter to create a FedEx Air Waybill using the Overseas Vote Foundation “Express Your Vote” Program at this URL: www.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/ExpressYourVote.htm. 

The program offers deeply discounted, and in some instances, free, express mail delivery of a voter’s ballot to his or her Elections Office.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot Program and the “Express Your Vote” Programs are not designed for the casual tourist – they are for those stationed or living overseas. Tourists need to plan in advance and contact their local elections office directly to sign up and vote by mail.

Regardless of the method of delivery, all ballots must be received by the Elections Office by