Ask the U.S. Consul:
Voting
By Lisa Vickers, Principal Office
June 2006

It isn’t only an election year in Mexico; in November, midterm elections will determine the makeup of Congress for the remaining two years of President Bush’s term in office. As we have said before, it is never too early to register to vote absentee. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t voted before, or if you don’t have a U.S. mailing address: you can still participate in the upcoming elections.

Midterm elections are almost as important as Presidential elections, and in addition to the entire House of Representatives and many seats in the Senate, many states are electing new governors. Even if you do not live in the United States for all intents and purposes, it is a good idea to stay abreast of who your Congressional representatives are.

All American citizens, even if they no longer maintain a residence in the United States, are entitled to vote absentee. Your “legal state of registration” is the state that you last lived in prior to departing the United States. Voting in a federal election does not affect the determination of residence or domicile for federal, state or local taxation purposes.

Voting absentee has never been easier. You can get the Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Request (FPCA) from the local Consulate, complete it and we will send it back postage paid, or you can go online to this website (VoteFromAbroad.org , complete the ballot, print it, and send it yourself.

There are instructions and addresses for every state included at this site, too. We will still mail it for you for free, as well as the completed ballot when you receive it. A few states require that the request form be witnessed or notarized. We can do both here for free.

As the election gets closer, we will provide more information on voting, and will possibly offer voter registration days in Merida and Progreso. If you have questions about voting, getting registered or anything else for that matter, please contact the Consulate.

Address & Info
Calle 60, No 338K x 29 y 31
Colonia Alcala Martin
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico  97050
Tel: (999) 942 5700
Fax: (999) 942 5759
Email: ConsularMerida@state.gov

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