Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Debates Available to All Citizens

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has joined with the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) to make the 2008 election debates more valuable to Americans abroad.  DebateWatch is the CPD's nonpartisan, international program that brings U.S. citizens together to watch and discuss this fall's presidential and vice presidential debates.

All across the world, citizens will meet in schools, libraries, theaters, hotels, civic auditoriums, homes, and elsewhere to watch the debates on television or the Internet, or listen to them on the radio.

At the end of each debate and before commentary begins, the facilitator will turn off the broadcast and lead participants in a discussion about the debate, the candidates, and the upcoming election.  After finishing their discussion, participants may log on to the CPD's website, www.debates.org, to fill out a voluntary survey and provide feedback to the CPD.  If you would like to learn more about DebateWatch or register to organize one of these meetings, please see http://www.debates.org/  or email debatewatch@debates.org.

Presidential debates are a permanent part of every Presidential general election,  Debates provide a means for viewers and listeners to become informed about the candidates' positions on the issues.  The CPD's primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates.  The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsored all the presidential debates since 1988. 

For the 2008 general election, CPD teamed up with Myspace to create a new website,www.MyDebates.org .  The website which will be operational in early September will try and enhance the educational value of the debates while engaging new audiences.  The CPD believes, "the Internet can be used to personalize the debates in a way that allows for in-depth examination by individual citizens and joint discussion with others."

The new website will include tools for citizens to make scorecards of important issues and help track the issues throughout the debates.

Voters can submit questions for possible inclusion in the town meeting debate viawww.MyDebates.org .  This new venture plans to offer unprecedented access and flexibility in following these debates through forums that discuss numerous topics.

More information about the CPD and MyDebates.org can be found at http://www.debates.org/ .

The schedules for this fall's debates are as follows:
(Information current as of 5 Aug 08)

First presidential debate       Friday, September 26   

Vice-presidential debate        Thursday, October 2    

Second presidential debate      Tuesday, October 7     

Third presidential debate       Wednesday, October 15  

All debates will begin at 9 pm E.T., and will be carried by international media outlets. The debates will have a single moderator and last for 90 minutes.       

State Ballot Return Deadlines!

Below is a list of General Election Deadlines for Overseas Citizens and Military stationed in the US and abroad. States appearing twice on the list are indicated with an asterisk. Please also be aware of states with postmark deadlines.

November 3:

Mississippi*, Overseas Citizens and Stateside Military, 5pm North Carolina, 5pm

November 4:

Alabama, 12pm

American Samoa, 1:30pm

Arizona, 7pm

Colorado, 7pm

Connecticut, COP

Delaware, 8pm

Florida*, Stateside Military, 7pm

Guam, 8pm

Hawaii, COP

Idaho, 8pm

Indiana, COP

Kentucky, COP

Louisiana

Maine, 8pm

Massachusetts*, Stateside Military, 8pm

Michigan, 8pm

Minnesota, COP

Mississippi*, Overseas Military, 7pm

Missouri, 7pm

Montana, 8pm

Nebraska, COP

Nevada, 7pm

New Hampshire, 5pm

New Jersey, COP

New Mexico, COP

Ohio*, Stateside Military, COP

Oklahoma, 7pm

Puerto Rico, 3pm

Rhode Island, 9pm

South Carolina, COP

South Dakota, COP

Tennessee, COP

Texas*, Stateside Military, COP

Virginia, 7pm

West Virginia

Wisconsin*, Overseas Citizens, COP

Wyoming, COP

November 7:

Georgia, postmarked by Nov. 4

North Dakota

November 10:

Iowa, 12pm, postmarked by Nov. 3

Texas*, Overseas Citizens and Stateside Military, in delivery by Nov. 4

November 11:

New York*, Overseas Citizens,  postmarked by Nov. 3 Pennsylvania, postmarked by Nov. 3

November 14:

Alaska*, Stateside Military

Arkansas, 5pm

District of Columbia

Florida*, Overseas Citizens and Overseas Military, 7pm Ohio*, Overseas Citizens and Overseas Military Virgin Islands Wisconsin*, Military, 5pm, postmarked by Nov. 4 Massachusetts*, Overseas Citizens and Overseas Military, postmarked Nov. 4

November 17:

New York*, Military, postmarked by Nov. 3

November 18:

Illinois, postmarked by Nov. 3

Utah, 12pm, postmarked by Nov. 3

November 19:

Alaska*, Overseas Citizens and Overseas Military

November 25:

Washington, oath sign/dated by Nov. 4

"COP" Stands for Close Of Polls.

Missouri to Allow Alternatives to Certain UOCAVA Citizens

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has declared that voters in Federal service who are eligible to receive hostile fire or imminent danger pay, or who are located in a combat zone as designated by the IRS( http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108331,00.html ) may return their voted ballots by fax or email.  This declaration applies to both the August 5, 2008 state primary election and the November 4, 2008 general election.

Under Missouri election law, a person in Federal service includes:

a. Members of the armed forces of the United States, while in active service, and their spouses and dependents;

b. Active members of the merchant marine of the United States and their spouses and dependents;

c. Civilian employees of the United States government working outside the boundaries of the United States, and their spouses and dependents;

d. Active members of religious or welfare organizations assisting servicemen, and their spouses and dependents;

e. Persons who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces or who have terminated their service or employment in any group mentioned in this section within sixty days of an election, and their spouses and dependents.   

Missouri does not allow citizens to receive their blank absentee ballots by fax or email.  Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters.    For information on your precinct, candidates, and elections, visit the Missouri Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.mo.gov/ .  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the FVAP at 1-800-438-8683 or vote@fvap.ncr.gov.

Pennsylvania -

Now Allowing More Alternatives to the By Mail Process

Pennsylvania Secretary of State, Pedro Cortes has declared that all UOCAVA voters who are eligible to receive hostile fire or imminent danger pay, or who are located in a combat zone as designated by the IRS( http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108331,00.html ) may receive their blank ballots by fax.  This declaration will apply to the November 4, 2008 general election.

If you receive the blank ballot by fax, you may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot FWAB) return envelope and security envelope on the FVAP's website ( www.fvap.gov ) to return your ballot in secret so it will be counted.  Pennsylvania law does not allow you to return the voted ballot by fax.

Pennsylvania state policy also allows UOCAVA citizens to return the voted ballot by first class mail, express mail or overnight mail. Insert the voted ballot into the inner envelope provided or into the security envelope if you are using the FWAB.  Then insert the inner envelope or security envelope into the outer envelope or return envelope (if you are using the FWAB).  If using express or overnight mail, then insert the outer or return envelope into the overnight mail package and return it to your county board of elections.

 For information on your precinct, candidates, and elections, visit the Pennsylvania Secretary of State website at http://www.votespa.com/ .  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the FVAP at

1-800-438-8683 or vote@fvap.ncr.gov.

Absentee Voting Week - October 12 TO 18, 2008

FVAP has designated October 12 to October 18, 2008 as Absentee Voting Week. Overseas voters should vote and return their state absentee ballot or the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) during this week. If you receive your state absentee ballot after submitting the FWAB, vote and return the state ballot up to and including Election Day.

Link to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website is available at www.fvap.gov .

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Department of Defense
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC  20301-1155
(703) 588-1584
DSN 425-1584
TOLL FREE: 1-800-438-VOTE (8683)
FAX: (703) 696-1352
DSN 426-1352

Visit our website for international toll-free phone and fax numbers.
Email: vote@fvap.ncr.gov
Comments or suggestions on this newsletter are welcome and appreciated.
Website:www.fvap.gov

Vote!

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Embassy San Salvador is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call (503) 2501-2628 or send an e-mail to votesansalvador@state.gov