[News Boquete] Message for U.S. Citizens: U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama (September 28, 2020)

 

Message for U.S. Citizens – Don't Let the Elections Pass You By 

  

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.  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 Panama please see our website.  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.  To allow processing time between Department of State and U.S. Postal Service systems this means ballots must be received in the Embassy no later thanOctober 13, 2020.  Ballots received after that date will be forwarded, but 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.  

 

The above timeline is based on current local and U.S. conditions, which are subject to change.  Should conditions change and impact the timeline we will alert you.  We strongly recommend you submit your ballot as far in advance as possible.   

 

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 Embassy can also help you mail your completed ballot via surface mail. Once you have completed your ballot, you can mail it to our offices at the address listed below: 

 

Embajada de los Estados Unidos 

ATTN: Voting Officer 

Edificio 783, Ave. Demetrio B. Lakas 

Clayton, Panama City, Rep. Of Panama 

 

If it is more convenient for you, you can also return your ballot to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense. 

 

A ballot drop-box is also available near the main entrance of the Embassy. Those who wish to drop their ballots in the drop-box may do so from Monday to Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. 

 

Voting assistance can be provided via email or by appointment. If you need assistance, email panama-acs@state.gov. 

 

Ballots mailed to the embassy or left at the drop box should arrive sealed.   

 

Missed the U.S. Embassy shipment deadline?  Consider returning your ballot to the United States via a commercial express courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL 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. 

 

Returning your ballot by international mail delivery.  If using Panama's postal system, be sure to affix sufficient international postage, and allow sufficient time for international mail delivery.  Ballots sent via regular international mail from most countries at this late date are unlikely to reach local election officials by state ballot receipt deadlines, so you may need to consider another method. 

 

HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OVERSEAS VOTING.  Please help spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues that now is the time to start thinking about overseas voting.  Consider posting to your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or other social media account that you are an active voter and will be dropping off or mailing your Federal Post Card Application or completed ballot.  Use #ProudOverseasVoter to help get the word out about voting. 

 

Need help?  You can get in-person assistance from our Embassy.  Voting Assistance Officers or private U.S. citizen volunteers can assist on a case by case basis. Please email panama-acs@state.gov.  

 

Have Questions?  Please contact Panama's Voting Assistance Officer at +507-317-5000, or at panama-acs@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. 

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