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Message for U.S. Citizens: It’s not too late to send in your ballot!
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11 MINUTE READ
October 9, 2020

The Embassy of the United States of America

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Message for U.S. Citizens: It’s not too late to send in your ballot!

If you plan to vote in the November 2020 election, it is important to ACT NOW!  Don’t wait, return your voted ballot right away! Remember U.S. embassies and consulates are not polling places; same-day in-person voting is not available outside the United States – but you can get assistance in requesting and returning your absentee ballot. If you wish to drop off your ballot at the Embassy, do so before October 15.  Many states require voted ballots to reach local election officials by the close of polls on Tuesday, November 3.

The Department of State is committed to assisting overseas voters in casting their ballots.  For instructions on how to vote from overseas, please see our website fvap.gov.  For general overseas voting information please see the Department of State’s web site Absentee Voting Information for U.S. Citizens Abroad or FVAP.gov.

Never received your ballot?  If you registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot prior to your state’s registration deadline, but have not yet received your ballot, complete and return a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to ensure your vote reaches election officials by your state’s deadline.  If your regular ballot arrives later, complete and return it as well.  Your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot will only be counted if your regular ballot does not reach local election officials by your state’s deadline.  Your vote will not be counted twice.

RETURNING YOUR BALLOT:

Note that the U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail their completed ballots before Election Day and at least one week prior to your state’s deadline.  The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City continues to receive and forward ballots, however ballots received after October 15 may arrive too late to be counted.

Please also check the regulations in the state in which you vote as deadlines may differ, and you may have alternative voting options such as electronic voting or by fax.

If you wish to drop off your ballot, or have a friend or colleague drop it off for you, place it in either a U.S. postage-paid envelope (provided with the ballot) or an envelope bearing domestic U.S. postage addressed to your local election officials. The DPO provides free mail service from embassies and consulates to a U.S. sorting facility (for voting purposes only).  Make sure your voting materials are in a sealed envelope addressed to your election office.  You must include U.S. postage, or print off a pre-paid postage envelope from fvap.gov/eo/overview/materials/forms, to ensure delivery to the proper local election authorities.

If using the DPO, voting material can be mailed directly to the Embassy through Cargo Expreso or Guatex, or dropped off at the screening booth of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, located at the corner of 7 Street “A” and 1 Avenue in Zone 10.  The hours of acceptance are from 07:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.

Missed the U.S. Embassy shipment deadline?  Consider returning your ballot to the United States through professional courier service or return your voted ballot electronically if allowed by your state.  Ballots sent to local election officials via express courier service do not receive standard postmarks, so voters using this method should confirm delivery on or before November 3 prior to payment and shipment.  Check your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov for guidance.

Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by email or fax.  Review your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov carefully for guidance.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City at voteguatemala@state.gov.   You can also contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program directly if you encounter issues with local election officials by emailing Vote@FVAP.gov or toll free by phone from many countries around the world.

Confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.  Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website at www.FVAP.gov.

Remember, your vote counts!

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