IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE 2008 U.S. ELECTIONS

All American citizens are reminded that 2008 is an election year in the United States.  Overseas citizens are eligible to participate in primary, run-off, and special elections that occur throughout the year, as well as the general elections in November.  A calendar of election dates is available on the Internet at http://www.fvap.gov.  You are encouraged to register to vote and/or request absentee ballots as early in the year as possible to ensure that you will receive all ballots for which you are eligible.

The official U.S. Government website for overseas absentee voting assistance is the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov.  It has a wealth of information about absentee voting, including the downloadable absentee ballot application (SF-76, Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA), state-specific instructions for completing the form, links to or contact numbers for state and local officials, and the downloadable emergency ballot. 

The following is the basic absentee voting process:
• You complete an application form (see below) and send it to local election officials in the U.S.
• The local official approves your request, or contacts you for further information
• The local official sends you an absentee ballot
• You vote the ballot and send it back in time to meet your state's deadline
If the ballot receipt deadline is drawing near, and you have not yet received the blank ballot from local officials, you can download an emergency ballot, write in the names of the candidates and the offices for which they are running, and send it back in time to meet your state's ballot receipt deadline.  The emergency ballot (SF-186, Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, or FWAB) is available on the Internet at http://www.fvap.gov.  
 
Registration and ballot request procedures and deadlines vary by state.  

There may be late changes to your state's voting calendar, procedures or deadlines.  When these occur, the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) will issue a News Release.  News Releases are available on the Internet at  http://www.fvap.gov.    

Overseas Americans may contact Democrats Abroad, Republicans Abroad or other American citizens groups or organizations for absentee voting information, or for assistance in registering to vote or to request absentee ballots.  Links to these groups may be found on the FVAP website at  http://www.fvap.gov.
 
Additionally, the Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Floriana, Malta is available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, send an e-mail to  ConsularMalta@state.gov.