Federal Voting Assistance Program- News Release # 17
Federal Voting Assistance Program- News Release # 17
Federal Voting Assistance Program- News Release # 17
# 17 November 17, 2009
Massachusetts Military and Overseas Voters, Submit the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) NOW for the December 8, 2009 Special Primary!
On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Massachusetts will hold a special primary election to fill the vacancy left as a result of the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. A special State election will follow on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.
Massachusetts jurisdictions are currently express mailing ballots to military and overseas voters. If you receive the regular State ballot, follow the instructions provided with the ballot. There will be an address form included with the State of Massachusetts’ express mail number for returning the voted ballot. Vote and return it immediately! Note: Expedited mail may not be available to all locations (See eligible Zip Codes at: http://ribbs.usps.gov/apo_fpo/documents/tech_guides/EMMSdirectory.pdf.)
If you have not received the regular State ballot, use the FWAB now and return it by email, fax, or mail.
Although local election officials began mailing ballots on November 9, 2009 do not wait until you receive it! Massachusetts allows you to use the FWAB as a simultaneous ballot request and ballot even if you have not applied for a State absentee ballot (registration is waived). The FWAB is available from your Voting Assistance Officer or at www.fvap.gov.
Get started by following the prompts at www.fvap.gov to complete the FWAB. Vote the ballot by using the official candidates list below or write-in the name of a candidate of your choice. No witness or notary is required.
Democratic Party Candidates
Michael E. Capuano
Martha Coakley
Alan A. Khazei
Stephen G. Pagliuca
Republican Party Candidates
Scott P. Brown
Jack E. Robinson
Libertarian
None
See additional candidate’s information at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elespeif/senatorincongressma_can.htm
If you are faxing or emailing the voted ballot, you must waive the right to secrecy of the ballot. You must sign and date a statement on the Electronic Transmission Sheet available at www.fvap.gov/resources/media/coversheet.pdf indicating, “I understand that by faxing or emailing my voted ballot I am voluntarily waiving my right to a secret ballot.”
To return your FWAB by email, email the voted ballot along with your voter affirmation and Electronic Transmission Sheet as a scanned attachment directly to your Town or City Clerk.
To return your FWAB by fax, fax the voted ballot along with your voter affirmation and Electronic Transmission Sheet directly to your Town or City Clerk.
Email and Fax numbers can be found at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm. If email or fax is not available use the DoD Electronic Transmission Service to email or fax your FWAB:
• Email the FWAB along with your voter affirmation and Electronic Transmission Sheet as a scanned attachment to ets@fvap.ncr.gov. It will be forwarded to the local election office you indicate.
OR
• Fax the FWAB along with your voter affirmation, and Electronic Transmission Sheet to: (703)-693-5527, DSN 223-5527, or toll-free (from the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands to 1-800-368-8683). International toll-free fax numbers can be found at www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreefax.html.
To return your FWAB by mail, insert the sealed security envelope and the Voter's Declaration/
Affirmation into the mailing envelope and mail the ballot directly to your Town or City Clerk. Addresses can be found at www.fvap.gov/contact/addresses/maaddr.html.
Your ballot or FWAB must be received by your Town or City Clerk by 8 pm on December 8, 2009.
Recommended Mailing Dates for Your Voted Ballot
You should mail your ballot by the following dates to account for mail delivery times. If you receive the regular State ballot after submitting the FWAB, follow the instructions provided with the ballot, vote and return it immediately! If both ballots are received by the deadline, only the State ballot will be counted.
• Voters in Iraq, Afghanistan, on ships at sea, and other overseas locations without access to the military postal system should mail voted ballots by November 6, 2009 or as soon as possible.
• Voters in other overseas military installations should mail voted ballots by November 14, 2009 or as soon as possible.
• Stateside Uniformed Service members and their families should mail voted ballots by November 30, 2009.
For More Information: Go to the Massachusetts election website at: www.sec.state.ma.us or visit FVAP at: www.fvap.gov.
We Want Your Feedback! If this document was helpful to you or if you ran into problems or have questions, please contact FVAP at 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, or at vote@fvap.ncr.gov. Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at: www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html. With your feedback, we can make this even more helpful for the next election.