Voting and ballots for the 2020 U.S. Elections
Registering to Vote is fast, easy, and can be done from anywhere in the world! All U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may receive your ballot by email, fax, or internet download.
Actions to take: Start by confirming your voter registration with your state. Some states require absentee voters to register annually so you may need to re-register. Go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website at FVAP.gov to connect to your state’s voter portal to register to vote, request a ballot, and more.
Researching the Candidates and Issues: Online Resources. Go to the FVAP links page for helpful resources to aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain on-line. You can also read national and hometown newspapers online or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook (@DODFVAP), Twitter (@FVAP), and Instagram (@fvapgov).
Returning Your Completed, Signed Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through the U.S. Embassy Belmopan Diplomatic Post Office (DPO). The DPO provides free mail service from embassies and consulates to a U.S. sorting facility. You will need to place your ballots in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage, in order for them to be delivered to the proper local election authorities.
If using the DPO, voting material can be dropped off at the back entrance of U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Floriana Avenue (across from the British High Commission). The hours of acceptance are Monday to Thursday 08:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. DPO transit time from Belize to the United States is approximately four weeks. We advise all overseas U.S. citizens to submit their forms and ballots accordingly.
Guidance for American Citizens: U.S. Embassy Belmopan urges that all U.S. citizens who plan to present their ballot for DPO mail comply with all restrictions imposed by the Government of Belize to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. These may include the mandatory use of masks in public, respecting curfew and quarantine requirements, and any restrictions on travel between districts. U.S. citizens should also be aware that the DPO may close unexpectedly, and the hours, and location, to drop off completed ballots may change.
Learn more about voting and ballots at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact U.S. Embassy Belmopan’s Voting Assistance Officer via ACSBelize@state.gov.
Assistance: U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Belize Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo, Belize +501 822-4011 ConsulBelize@state.gov or ACSBelize@state.gov https://bz.usembassy.gov/ State Department - Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 Belize Country Information Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts. Follow us on Facebook
Researching the Candidates and Issues: Online Resources. Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain online. You can also read national and hometown newspapers online, or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter.
Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact U.S. Embassy Belmopan’s Voting Assistance Officer at VoteBelmopan@state.gov.
Remember, your vote counts!
Be absent but accounted for!
