2008 General Elections:  Are You Ready to Vote?

American citizens should vote now in the November 4, 2008 presidential and general elections.  If you registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot by your state’s deadline, you should have already received your state absentee ballot.  Please return your marked ballot now!

Ballot hasn’t arrived?

If your ballot has not arrived, use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).  The FWAB serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials.  The FWAB is available at www.OverseasVoteFoundation.org or from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If your regular state ballot arrives after you have mailed the FWAB, complete and mail the state ballot as well.

Mailing Options

Deadlines for receiving absentee ballots vary by state, but most require ballots be received by Election Day, Tuesday, November 4.  Logistically, this means that for the majority of voters, the most reliable approach for returning ballots at this late date is via express courier.  The deadline for the FedEx Express Your Vote  free overnight ballot delivery program is Wednesday, October 29.  Some states also accept completed ballots by fax or e-mail.

FedEx Express Your Vote and other Courier Options

The Overseas Vote Foundation and FedEx have partnered to offer voters in Shanghai express mailing of ballots at no charge through the Express Your Vote program.  All states and territories except Alabama have agreed to accept ballots via the “Express Your Vote” Program.  Voters using this method should logon to the Overseas Vote Foundation Website and print out a customized FedEx Airway Bill or label.  Approved drop-off locations for the “Express Your Vote” program are listed below.  These locations will have hardcopy Airway Bills available onsite to be completed in person, but we strongly encourage voters using the Express Your Vote program to prepare the Airway Bill online to ensure it is complete and correct.  Be sure to set your printer to landscape to ensure that all of the necessary data prints. 

Other express couriers will also mail ballots, for a fee. 

UPS:  www.ups.com (800-820-8388 or 400-820-8388)
DHL:  www.dhl.com (800-810-8000 or 400-810-8000)

Express couriers generally do not deliver to PO boxes, so you will need to know the street address of your local voting office.  The Overseas Vote Foundation website has detailed address information, including instructions for express mail addresses and phone numbers for local voting officials. 

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer is available to answer questions about absentee voting at 86 21 3217-4650 ext 2124 or by e-mail at VoteShanghai@state.gov. 

Express Your Vote Shanghai FedEx Drop-off Locations

US Consulate American Citizen Services Center, 1038 West Nanjing Road 8th F
美国驻沪总领事馆，南京西路1038号梅龙镇广场8楼Hours:  Mornings 8 - 11:30, Afternoons 1:30 - 3:30, closed Tuesday afternoons 

American Chamber of Commerce, Suite 568, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Road West
 上海美国商会 中国上海市南京西路1376号上海商城东峰办公楼568室
Hours:  9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Mon – Fri)

FedEx Xuhui Station, No. 28, Lane 411, Shi Long Rd., Xuhui District  
徐汇区石龙路411弄28号
Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (Mon - Fri), 10:00 - 18:00 (Sat)

FedEx Changning Station, D3, No. 291, Sui Ning Rd., Changning District 
长宁区绥宁路291号D3
Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (Mon - Fri), 10:00 - 18:00 (Sat)

FedEx Zhabei Station, No. 39, Lane 709, Lin Shi Rd., Zhabei District
 闸北区灵石路709号39号
Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (Mon - Fri), 10:00 - 18:00 (Sat)

FedEx Jinqiao Station, No.615, Xin Jin Qiao Rd., Pudong
 浦东新金桥路615号
Hours: 9:00 - 24:00 (Mon - Sat)

FedEx Pudong Airport Gateway
Warehouse E, Int'l Express Center, No. 600 Hai Tian Wu Rd., Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport
浦东国际机场海天五路600号国际快件中心E库
Hours: 9:00 - 24:00 (Mon - Sat)

Please note that many FedEx outlets in Shanghai will not participate in the “Express Your Vote” program.