Guadalajara, Mexico - The 2012 United States Presidential Election Season is almost upon us. It’s time to start thinking now about registering to vote for 2012.

Normally, each overseas voter should re-register in January for the entire year. However, overseas voters from the below three states should submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) now to ensure they have the opportunity to vote in the upcoming early Presidential Primary Elections:

• New Hampshire: primary date TBD* (At this time, New Hampshire has not determined its Presidential Primary date.)

• South Carolina: primary date January 21, 2012

• Florida: primary date January 31, 2012

Please visit fvap.gov to get started, the process only takes a few minutes.

Many states allow you to vote only in the year your ballot request (Federal Post Card Application “FPCA”) is received (which is why we advise re-registering in January of each year,) but due to the early primary dates, these three states have made an exception. These states allow you to submit your FPCA now in 2011 so that you receive your state ballot and return it in time to be counted for these primaries.

However, to ensure you are eligible to vote in the other 2012 elections, including the General Presidential election, you must submit an FPCA again in January of 2012. Voters from other early primary states should submit their 2012 FPCA early in January to ensure they will be able to vote in their states primaries.

Please see the Guadalajara consulate website voting page for more information.

The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta is located at Paseo de los Cocoteros #85; Sur Paradise Plaza, Interior Local L-7, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, C.P. 63732. The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta’s telephone numbers are 011-52-322-222-0069 & 011-52-322-223-3301; the fax number is 011-52-322-223-0074. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011-52-333-268-2145.