It's Citizenship Day!

[smofbabe]

First my new passport was waiting for me at the PO. Then, my absentee ballot was in the mail when I got home. Unfortunately, an insert says that "Due to printing delays, we are providing you a sample ballot on which to vote. When we receive it back, we will duplicate your ballot onto an official ballot and will tally your vote." Doesn't make me feel real warm and fuzzy... I at least know the ballot will be returned in time because of a tip from tilthouse about the Overseas Vote Foundation's Express Your Vote initiative that enables expatriates return their ballots by FedEx Express from many countries for a discount or, in the case of Australia, for free!

Frankly, because I'm voting in California, my Presidential vote won't make much difference in the overall scheme of things. However, I'm happy that I have the chance to vote against Prop 8, which proposes to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Comments

[eefster.livejournal.com]

That right there (Prop 8) is one of the reasons I'm making more of an effort to vote this year than I normally do.

My vote for President won't make a blind bit of difference, realistically, but the state- and county-level initiatives are a different story.

double-check that 'ballot'

[parrismcb.livejournal.com]

sounds fishy to me. Check on the CA SOS site about this 'glitch'. For some states you can download a ballot directly off the web and use that instead. like New Mexico, which allows expats to download a registration form and ballot - with extended reg dates as well.

I know CA is going Obama, but there's lots of other offices and that odious 'amendment' to vote against, and every vote is vital.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

That is odd. I received a real ballot in California. (I'm a permanent absentee.) Maybe they only had so many and sent them to people on the Continent first, thinking maybe those who aren't living here at the moment might not vote? I don't know, but it's fishy. They have big signs on the sides of buses urging people to vote by mail, so they should be prepared.