The upcoming US elections could be just as close as the
previous elections. As in the 2000 elections, the election
could be decided by just a few voters in key states. Yet
instead of American citizens in Israel sitting back in their
armchairs and waiting for the outcome of the elections, they
can sit back in their armchairs while actively taking part in
the elections.
The American law provides for absentee voting, allowing every
US Citizen to vote even though he is not physically present
in the United States. As the readers of this paper know,
there must be tens of thousands of US citizens here in Eretz
Yisroel. All that is required is to mail a registration form,
and then wait for the ballot to arrive in the mail. No need
to go down to the Embassy or Consulate, no waiting on line,
no wasting of time.
With this in mind, a group of young Americans are attempting
to register as many Americans as possible before the deadline
for absentee registration is up. According to them, most
States require registration for absentee ballots by forty
five days before elections, but for first-time voters, and as
a general rule, sixty days is recommended. That leaves very
little time for registration. With the elections on November
2nd, a request to get an absentee ballot should be sent in by
Rosh Hashana.
This is an effort that is not sponsored by, or in any way
connected, to any political party. It is a nonpartisan effort
to get American Jews to vote their conscience. Due to strict
US election laws forbidding any intervention by foreign
citizens, only rabbonim with American citizenship were
approached for haskomos.
It is estimated that the number of eligible American voters
living outside of America is 4-10 million voters. Both US
political parties are actively working among the expatriate
Americans. In the last US elections, Bush won Florida -- and
thereby the election -- by only 537 votes. There were 6,000
Florida votes sent in from Israel. Various estimates of the
number of eligible American voters range from 100-185,000.
What the Rabbonim Wrote
The group approached a number of American gedolei
Torah, and this is what they wrote:
"The Torah giants of previous generations ruled that it is
proper for every Jew to vote in the elections of his country
in order to lessen the yoke of the Diaspora from upon his
fellow Jews. How much more so are the citizens of the United
States obligated to join in the elections of their nation.
"First of all, this is true because we are obligated to care
about the interests of our fellow Jews and we have seen the
enormous accomplishments which American Jewry has achieved,
with the help of heaven, by virtue of its electoral power.
Secondly, this is true because the divine providence in our
days has made the United States the major nation which
protects the `nation living in Zion' from the `seventy
wolves' who would devour them.
"It is therefore obvious that it is proper for every
individual who is a USA citizen to vote in the upcoming
elections, and it is equally proper for those citizens living
outside the country, especially the thousands living in
Israel, to register as soon as possible as absentee voters so
that they will be permitted to vote. Whoever does not do so
bears testimony upon himself that the interests of his fellow
Jews do not concern him.
"Let no one excuse himself from his duty with the argument
that in so large a country as the United States his
individual vote is meaningless, for we have seen many
elections, particularly the Presidential election of four
years ago, which were decided by several hundred votes.
"May Hakodosh Boruch Hu protect his nation from evil
and cruel decrees and from the difficult times in which we
live, and may we merit speedily in our days the coming of the
Mashiach. May the verse be fulfilled, "May all the nations of
the world see that the name of G-d has been called upon
you."
"We hereby affix our signatures to the above,"
It was signed by HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of
Philadelphia, HaRav Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshiva of
Baltimore, HaRav Tanchum Beker, Admor of Ozhorov, HaRav Leib
Hyman, rav of Beit Knesset HaGra Bayit Vegan, HaRav Avrohom
Isbee, rosh yeshiva Gur Ashdod, HaRav Mendel Weinbach, rosh
yeshiva Ohr Someach.
Another letter was also issued:
"It is well known that the Torah Leaders of the previous
generations, and among them R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l
and R' Yaakov Kamenetsky zt"l, ruled that every Jew
should vote in US elections.
"That ruling is applicable to every American citizen,
including those currently residing in Eretz Yisroel.
"We therefore call upon all our Jewish brethren to take all
necessary steps to assure their ability to vote.
"May we be granted the speedy arrival of the Mashiach
Tzidkeinu."
"We hereby affix our signatures to the above,"
This letter was signed by HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg,
rosh yeshiva of Torah Ohr, and HaRav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz,
Admor of Boston.
Who is entitled to register?
Any US citizen is entitled to vote, regardless of time
actually spent in the US.
What is the procedure?
All absentee voters must fill out a FPCA (Federal Post Card
Application) which has to be sent in to their local elections
board. The process for filling out the forms is pretty much
similar for all fifty States, but there are some minor
differences between the various States. For instance, the
State of Michigan requires notary confirmation for all voters
requesting Absentee ballots. There are four major sections;
a) Identification of the applicant, b) Previous registration
or voting history, c) US place of residency, d) Foreign
Mailing Address. In addition, the form must be sent to the
correct Elections Board.
How many potential voters are there in Eretz
Yisroel?
We believe that there is a potential of over 100,000 eligible
US voters in Eretz Yisroel. Due to the short time left, we
feel it will be a big achievement if we reach 10-15,000
voters. We are concentrating on Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh,
and other highly concentrated areas of Americans. We call on
all people who have the ability to volunteer to contact us.
We are looking to have one representative in each building.
This will give us the ability to reach maximum voters in
minimum time. We will bring the forms and give instructions
on how to fill them out. Of course we will be available for
any questions that might arise.
For volunteering opportunities, forms, or general
information, Please contact us at 03-9096788
