US Election: if you voted via embassy or consulate, was your ballot marked as received?
Posted by Humble_Interest_9048@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 36 comments
BaguettesandBurritos@reddit
Texan here, mailed my ballot via DHL per advice of the American Embassy- it never even left the local post office. Was told mailing your ballot was "just as safe as going to the embassy" so I guess it was accurate?
Both-Basis-3723@reddit
Secretary of State of Texas never sent my ballot. So for the first time in 34 years I didn’t vote
mer22933@reddit
Yup this happened to me the last 2 elections and midterms. My ballot from abroad mysteriously never made it so I gave up and this was the first time I haven’t voted! Don’t regret it at all since I’ll likely never be returning.
No-Pea-8967@reddit
Wow! That's shocking, but really shouldn't be. Thankfully Georgia did and received my ballot but looks like my vote didn't matter
Both-Basis-3723@reddit
Being counted matters. I keep trying to tell myself nothing really changes with elections but somehow I think this time might be very different. It’s hard not fall into hyperbole, so I’ll just focus on the day in front of me. I’m not particularly proud of humanity today, I think I can say that.
Maleficent-Test-9210@reddit
There is no humanity in the US repugnantcan party.
No-Pea-8967@reddit
Yes, agree with your thoughts.
Humble_Interest_9048@reddit (OP)
Damn. How did you learn that they didn’t forward your vote?
Both-Basis-3723@reddit
They never sent me a ballot. First they kicked off the rolls along 100,000’s of other voters. Then made it a pain to reregister. Then never responded to my request for a ballot. First elections missed since 1992.
fjortisar@reddit
Does the FPCA site show that you're registered? https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/FPCA/index.aspx
Both-Basis-3723@reddit
SnarkAndStormy@reddit
Seems like there was a lot of this. Really wish there had been some entity in the US to regulate election integrity.
Both-Basis-3723@reddit
Well we won’t have to worry about that anymore
crash_bandicoot42@reddit
I thought mine was never received but I checked the day before the election and VA did get it.
mythril606@reddit
Walked it in to the Danish embassy last week, and that's the last I heard of it.
fjortisar@reddit
Yeah, it was marked as received and counted. The USPS is such a gamble though. I still have a letter that I sent to the US 6 years ago and it never arrived, the tracking number showed it sitting in the Tampa USPS offfice forever, but I guess it expired since it doesn't show it now. I called after a few months and the number on the site didn't even work.
Mabbernathy@reddit
Last year I got several mailings returned to me that were over 2 years old that they couldn't deliver. I have no idea where they were sitting that whole time. I've done mail in and drop off before, but it always makes me feel better to vote in person if possible. I figure the less time ballots spend sitting around the less time there is for something to happen to them.
SnarkAndStormy@reddit
Did mine online. Was verified and counted.
CanadianHeartbreak@reddit
Same for me.
texas_asic@reddit
Mailed it October 10th, and should've reached the consulate within a day or two. Not marked as received yet
WorldHigh5@reddit
Same. Also from Texas.
Humble_Interest_9048@reddit (OP)
Same. Not marked as received, which is concerning. Similar to previous general elections, I delivered my ballot to the consulate before the deadline, but this year it has not been marked as received. Curious if others have had the same experience.
unsurewhattochoose@reddit
No, mine wasn't received and I dropped it off at the embassy a few weeks ago :(
gadgetvirtuoso@reddit
I dropped mine off Sept 27 in Quito and Texas marked it as received Oct 20. So that’s almost 4 weeks as promised.
gadgetvirtuoso@reddit
Mine was received in TX but want accepted by the election board. I sent in a corrective action form and waiting to see the outcome from that.
BlackSheep_875@reddit
Dumb how some backwards states have electronic voting and Maryland does not. I mailed mine off via the embassy and never received any confirmation so who knows.
rachaeltalcott@reddit
Yes, dropped it off 9/23 at the US embassy Paris, marked as received on the website 11/29.
Haunting-Return2715@reddit
I submitted mine to the Paris embassy in the first week of October (they warned that it could take up to 4 weeks).
It was marked as received by October 15.
brooklynaut@reddit
New York ballot. Mailed it in about six weeks ago. No confirmation of any type.
ughusernames8@reddit
NJ received my ballot, I sent it through email
Cochino_Pecador@reddit
Hand delivered it to the embassy on 10 Oct. Checked the local precinct website in Virginia and it was marked as received on 25 Oct.
jigstarparis@reddit
I had requested mine in Georgia and then it said it was issued, but I never received it. I had opted for it to be emailed. Luckily I had planned a last minute trip to visit family and voted in person (not that it helped any).
HootieRocker59@reddit
Yes, they emailed me to confirm it was received.
SWJenks@reddit
Same. Voted electronically since Colorado is one of the few that allowed it (after a lot of effort proving I actually do live abroad) and received a confirmation it was received.
Humble_Interest_9048@reddit (OP)
Dang, you had to prove it. Guess it’s a different process than if you were just traveling abroad. Curious how you showed you live abroad—passport pages? Residency permit?
Chewbacca22@reddit
Received 15 Oct