StudyAbroad.com’s The Globe

Want to Vote from Abroad? Well, You Should

Perhaps for the first time since JFK’s historic run for President of the United States more than 40 years ago, a General Election has the American public on the edge of its seat. Obama wowed 84,000 people in a football stadium. McCain chose a female running mate. What will happen next?

Are you worried you’ll miss all the excitement (and perhaps more importantly, the ultimate decision) because you’ll be studying abroad during the election? Lucky for you, thanks to the Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF), voting from abroad has never been easier.

The OVF has launched Youth Vote Overseas (YVO), an initiative that makes it possible not only to register to vote or request an absentee ballot, but to get the information you need to be involved in the youth vote movement (even from Timbuktu!), as well as learn about the candidates and issues. The launch of YVO was inspired by the country’s need for the “young vote” to grow, regardless of whether the young voters are actually in the States.

What You Need to Do

A visit to the nonpartisan YVO site will educate study abroad students on important overseas voting issues, such as absentee ballots, voter registration and deadlines. For those who need to register to vote or request an absentee ballot in order to vote in the upcoming Presidential Election in November , the site offers access to the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is different than that of domestic absentee voting and students must follow the FPCA rules of the specific state in which they live.

Absentee ballot deadlines vary by state and voter type. Some states accept absentee ballots up to the day of the election day, but study abroad students are encouraged to request an absentee ballot at least 45 days before the election. Some registered voters who only need a ballot have extended deadlines. And keep in mind, even if your ballot says otherwise, you don’t have to provide photo identification with an absentee ballot.

Students who are registered and studying abroad, and who don’t get their voting documents on time, can opt for the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) and download a ballot. Most study abroad students will have to complete and send their ballot at least 30 days before the election—which in this case would be by 10/03/08. If you realize how important it is to vote in this election, simply sign up and create a Voter’s Account and get started!

Confused? There’s Tons of Help

One of the great things about the YVO site is that it features a Voter Help Desk, which is your go-to guide to nearly any questions you may have about casting your vote from your study abroad destination. Whether you’re studying abroad in Africa or enrolled in a study abroad program in Iceland, you can still exercise your right to have your say. Questions about deadlines, balloting issues or eligibility? The Voter Help Desk has you covered. The Help Desk will guide you through the registration and absentee ballot processes, including form-related questions, voter identification and voter account questions.

You’ll find a wealth of state-specific voter information directory and a directory of election officials by state. You can also get involved in the election while you study abroad by joining the YVO Facebook page, or joining groups such as Project Vote Smart and the Student Association for Voter Empowerment (SAVE). And the site is not politically-biased—they don’t care if you vote Republican or Democrat—they just want you to vote!