For overseas dems receiving damaged ballots/having other ballot problems

[lebkuchen]

My brother did. Here's what dem groups are doing:

Looks like I wasn't the only person having ballot troubles. Good thing the Dems are on it like white on rice this time!


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What to do about Problem Ballots: Democrats Abroad has set up a Multi-Pronged Plan of Action US citizens living in Australia have been receiving absentee ballots from their home electoral district since about 15 September. Some overseas voters are finding irregularities in the ballots or in the absentee voting process.

Democrats Abroad, Americans Overseas for Kerry-Edwards and the OverseasVote2004.com team are launching a joint plan of action for dealing with problems reported by overseas voters.

The plan will be implemented on 3 levels:

1. FOR VOTERS, we have created a webform where voters can report irregularities and request an FWAB. If you have problems with your ballot please go to www.DemocratsAbroad.org/problems.

2. FOR DA Local Chapter Leaders/AOK VOTING INFORMATION OFFICERS, we have created an online forum at http://overseasvote2004.intranets.com. Different discussion threads have been established for each state. So if you hear of a problem in a certain county, you can log on and see if the problem has already been resolved. I believe you will also have access to the problem reports from your country. Access to this forum is restricted to DA/AOK voter assisters. Please contact
Robbie Checkoway ([e-mail]) to gain access to this website for yourself or voter assistance officers you know.

3. LEGAL SUPPORT: Our DA Int'l Legal Counsel, Joe Smallhoover, is coordinating a legal team to advise on problems identified through the above process and mount legal challenges where necessary.

Also, you can always contact me, Carmelan Polce, Chair of Democrats Abroad Australia at [e-mail], and I'll work with you to resolve your problem as quickly as possible.

[Hephaistos]

1. "Sample ballot"

Friends of mine got the overseas absentee package, but there was no ballot inside, only a sample ballot, clearly marked as such. When they called the registrar of their former county in CA, they were to told to vote on the sample ballot, and mail that in - the county would transfer the vote to a real ballot upon receipt.

That sounds like to BS to me. Any info?

[lebkuchen]

2. If your friends registered as democrats,

I'd get with the people at the URL listed in the original message.

The Armed Forces Network has been advising those military members out of the state of OH to vote from a computer printed copy of a write in ballot because OH won't be able to get its absentee ballots out in time.

There are options. Use them!