Other Services
Voting Information
Absentee Ballots
In the lead-up to the November 2006 elections, the U.S. Embassy Manama has received a number of inquiries regarding procedures for overseas voting. On this page, we offer general advice to American citizens who will be voting from Bahrain this fall. More detailed information, including state-by-state guides to ballot deadlines and absentee application procedures can be found at the Federal Voting Assistance Program http://www.fvap.gov/. The Consular Section will also be happy to answer individual inquiries, and can be reached at ManamaVAP@state.gov
A list of all 2006 primary and general elections is available online http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/publications.html
1. Request an absentee ballot
The Embassy has a Voting Assistance Officer in the consular section who can provide you with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) for registering and requesting an absentee registration, as well as state-by-state absentee registration instructions and voting procedures. The Voting Assistance Officer can be reached by e-mail at ManamaVAP@state.gov
2. Send in your FPCA
Americans overseas can send the completed FPCA to their local election officials via government pouch, APO, host country international mail, or express courier service. Some states allow submission of the FPCA by fax. The hard copy of the FPCA available from your Voting Assistance Officer is postage paid and may be sent via pouch or APO without additional postage. Simply drop off your completed FPCA with the American Citizen Services desk in the consular section to have it mailed by one of these means. You may also check with express mail services for special services and rates available to U.S. voters overseas.
3. Send FPCAs as early as possible
Some states make ballots available as early as 60 days before the election. To allow time for receipt and timely return of voted ballots, and to qualify for an emergency ballot, if necessary, overseas voters should make every effort to get the FPCA to local election officials at least 30 days prior to the general election.
4. Be aware of ballot return deadlines
Ballot return dates vary from state to state. For example, Washington, DC, ballots must be received no later than 10 days after the election, whereas Virginia ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day. Therefore, check with your Voting Assistance Officer or review on-line information for your state’s deadline.
5. Follow directions carefully
Be certain to follow instructions carefully when filling out and submitting your absentee ballot. For example, some states require that the ballot be notarized or witnessed, whereas other states require that you include your passport number or other identifying information on the ballot.
6. If you do not receive a ballot
Check with your Voting Assistance Officer for eligibility requirements for the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). The FWAB is an emergency back-up ballot accepted by some states for use in state or local elections. Voters who receive their blank state ballot after submitting an FWAB should complete and return the state ballot as quickly as possible and in accordance with state requirements.
7. Consider special ballots
Several states provide a special ballot to overseas voters who live in remote locations and who know before the election that they will be unable to use the state’s regular absentee voting procedure due to poor mail service. These ballots generally include federal, state, and local offices. Instructions are available on-line or through your post’s Voting Assistance Officer.
Another good source of information is the Federal Election Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov/
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
