[quote=“AIT”]MASSACHUSETTS TO HOLD A SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 FOR REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE 5TH DISTRICT
On September 4, 2007 there will be a special primary election in Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District to fill the seat of Representative Martin T. Meehan. To determine if your legal residence is in the 5th Congressional District, you can click on “Communicating with Your Elected Officials”, then “Who is my Representative?” at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, www.fvap.gov.
The winners of this special primary election will compete in a special general election to be held on October 16, 2007.
REGISTERING TO VOTE AND REQUESTING A BALLOT:
All citizens residing outside the U.S. who are Massachusetts residents from the 5th District should request a ballot for this special primary election by completing and submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), SF-76, as soon as possible, if you have not done so already in calendar year 2007. The online version of the FPCA is available from the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html. Specific instructions for Massachusetts are available at:
fvap.gov/pubs/vag/pdfvag/ma.pdf.
Registration is waived for Massachusetts citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. To request an absentee ballot, the local registrar of voters must receive your FPCA or any other form of written communication with your name, date of birth, former residence and present residence not later than noon the day before the election.
You may submit the FPCA for absentee ballot requests by fax. After faxing, you must submit the FPCA by mail so that it arrives by September 4 in order to have your ballot counted. Use the following toll-free fax numbers for the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-368-8683, (703) 693-5527 or DSN 223-5527 (military). At www.fvap.gov/services/faxing.html, there is a list of additional toll-free fax numbers from overseas countries.
APPLICATION FOR BALLOT BY PROXY:
Massachusetts allows your spouse, or person residing in the same household, parent, in-laws, brother, sister, son, daughter, stepparent, stepchild, half-sister, half-brother, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or grandchild to request that a ballot be sent to you. Necessary forms may be obtained at the clerk’s office in the city or town of voting residence. Any form of written communication containing the required information may also be sent to the clerk’s office.
RETURNING YOUR BALLOT:
Return your voted ballot to the local election official so that it arrives by the close of polls (8:00 p.m. EDT) for the September 4 primary.
Massachusetts does not allow electronic transmission of the blank ballot or the voted ballot.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Massachusetts Secretary of State website, sec.state.ma.us/ele.
The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683. Citizens may reach the FVAP toll-free from 67 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov.[/quote]