Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - It is not too soon to think about requesting your absentee ballot to vote in some state primaries and the 2016 U.S. November 8, 2016 general election from here in Mexico. You can be an absentee voter, not an absentee citizen.

Some states now require you to register and request an absentee ballot every year if you live abroad or will be abroad during election periods and some states also have very early deadlines. Plus, you may have time to vote in some state primaries.

The website VoteFromAbroad.org has been established for U.S. and dual citizens to register and to request absentee ballots. This website was set up to assist people regardless of their party affiliation and will lead you to the election site in your last state of residence and/or voting. Please request both an FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) and a FWAB (Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot).

If you are required to send back the original signed absentee voter application or your state requires proof it came from abroad, Vote from Abroad has established the most secure and speedy system to assist you and insure that your ballot request is received and you will be registered as an absentee voter. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to VoteFromAbroad.org and register/request your absentee ballot (use your last state of residence and/or voting in the U.S.)

Step 2: If your state requires a paper absentee ballot request, print your request, sign it and drop it off at any Mail Boxes Etc. pick-up/drop-off location around Costa Banderas. Put Vote from Abroad, Box 69514, Ignacio I. Vallarta, 130 Local 3, Emiliano Zapata, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48380 on the outside envelope. Your inside envelope will contain the address of your U.S. election addressee and may require U.S. postage. Vote from Abroad will then transfer your requests for absentee ballots to the U.S. consulate for stamping Mexico as the point of origin before mailing to the United States in the consular pouch.

Step 3: If you have no mail-forwarding service and your state does not distribute ballots electronically, use Vote from Abroad, MEX69514, 2250 NW 114th Avenue, Unit 1M, Miami, FL 33192 as the address to receive your absentee ballot when it is sent.

Step 4: If you used Step 3, notify youcanvote2016(at)gmail.com so we can contact you when your ballot comes and get it to you.

If you have any questions about your state requirements for voting and the process outlined here, call or write your state's election hotline, your county clerk or board of elections and/or write youcanvote2016(at)gmail.com for assistance.

Voter assistance staffed tables will be set up at Mail Boxes, Etc. to advise you on June 8th from 11 am to 1 pm and on June 23 from 3-5 pm if you need help. Please let us know if you will need Spanish translation on one of these dates at youcanvote2016(at)gmail.com

Votefromabroad.org is a public service provided by Democrats Abroad for all U.S. voters regardless of party affiliation.