U.S. Embassy Nouakchott
Voting Announcement
September 14, 2006

The U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott would like to inform the American community in Mauritania about the upcoming U.S. elections.  This message will explain overseas voters on:
the upcoming state deadlines for registering to vote and for requesting absentee ballots.
faxing and e-mailing of ballot requests and voted ballots
mailing time and courier options
eligibility to use a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot  
Please contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible if you will assistance with voting services.
U.S. citizens in Mauritania are also encouraged to register and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Mauritania at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, telephone (222) 525-2660/2663, 525-1141/45 or 525-3038 (ext. 5441/5443); fax 525-1592; or email ConsularNkc@state.gov.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements and Travel Warnings can be found.  Americans in Mauritania who have not registered their presence with the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott are urged to register via the Internet through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  

The Embassy is located at rue Abdallaye, Nouakchott, and remains open for all American citizen services and visa services.  In case of an emergency, you may call the Embassy Duty Officer at 662-8163, or the Embassy guard post at 525-3288.

2006 U.S. Elections Notice
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Registration, Absentee Ballot Request Deadlines Approaching

U.S. citizens who plan to vote in the upcoming mid-term elections on November 7, 2006 are urged to submit their voter registration and/or absentee ballot requests without delay.  Use the Federal Post Card Application, available on-line from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website at http://www.fvap.gov.

Each state has its own regulations and deadlines for registering and requesting absentee ballots.  Your state may require receipt of your request as early as 30 days before the election.  Check the FVAP website for guidance.

Many states now allow overseas voters to fax in their registration and absentee ballot requests.  Some states will fax out blank ballots to overseas voters, and a smaller number of states allow overseas voters to fax back the voted ballot.  A few states allow the use of e-mail.  See your state’s rules for use of fax or e-mail at http://www.fvap.gov/ivas/fvap_state_menu.html.
 
Some states will begin mailing out absentee ballots to overseas voters by the third week in September. Voters should pay careful attention to their state’s ballot receipt deadlines, and must comply with any post-marking, witnessing or notarization requirements.  Overseas voters who are required to mail in their voted ballot should plan to allow up to three weeks for delivery via U.S. diplomatic pouch or international mail.  Some express mail companies may offer special rates or services for U.S. overseas voters. 
  
Voters who fail to receive a ballot from their local election officials may be eligible to use a federal emergency write-in ballot.  The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, is available on-line from the FVAP website.  However, most states will allow you to use it only if your initial ballot request reaches local officials by October 7, 2006 (30 days before the election).

For additional resources about absentee voting, including links to non-partisan sources of information, see the U.S. Department of State website at http://www.travel.state.gov/law/info/info_2964.html r