For most Americans, the US elections will be in another 14
days. For others, the elections are already here.
ACHBI -- a voluntary group of frum American citizens here in
Eretz Yisroel -- as well as the Republicans, Democrats, and
others, have worked over the past three months to register as
many US citizens in Israel as possible to vote by absentee
ballot.
The procedure involves filling out a form and returning it to
your local election board in the US. It makes no difference
if you have voted or registered in previous elections or, as
is often the case, you never set foot in the US. If you are a
US citizen, you have the right to vote.
There are fifty states in the USA, and according to Federal
Law, state law is responsible for setting out the guidelines
of the voting process. As such, there are 50 sets of laws,
and although the basics are similar, there are differences
between the various states. One of the major differences is
the deadlines for registering to vote absentee. Most states
differentiate between previously registered voters who can
register up till 3-10 days before the elections, and new
voters, who are required to register up to thirty days before
the elections. There are other differences as well,
especially in the form of the ballot, which ranges from
extremely simple to extremely complicated.
ACHBI, as during the registration drive, is here to help you
vote, and to ensure that your vote counts. If you have
already received your ballot, then you should put Israeli
stamps on it, and mail it back to the local election board,
using the envelopes provided. If two envelopes were provided,
then one is a security envelope which should contain the
ballot, and then should be inserted in to the larger
envelope. There are no Notary or witness requirements except
in the State of Florida. Any US citizen can witness your
vote, but he must sign and print his name and full address
where he lives here.
Those who have registered and not yet received their ballots,
or are having difficulty filling them out, should come to one
of the Voting evenings ACHBI will have, where you can receive
help or a special Write in Ballot. Use the same ID that you
used to register.
US Citizens who were once voted or registered in the USA
should come as well, as there is a distinct possibility that
you can register and vote together. We urge all those from
the States of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Michigan, to contact us as these States will most probably
decide the 2004 Elections by only a handful of votes.
If you do not know who is running for Senator or Congress in
your State, or you do not know who to vote for, leave it
empty. The Presidential vote is the important enough on its
own.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank various people
who made this voter drive a reality. First of all, to the
rabbonim who impressed upon all the importance of
participating in the elections. To all the volunteers who
handed out and received ballots in their homes, in yeshivos
and seminaries, and in their workplaces. The voluntary spirit
showed here just goes to prove how each individual can make
such a difference.
"Lo olecho hamelocho ligmor . . . " but to reach out to
over 10000 people in such a short period of time, with so
little resources, proves "avol ein atoh ben chorin
liboteil mimenoh." We know that in any case -- "Lev
sorim umelochim byad Hashem."
Voting Nights
Bnei Brak; 21-Oct-04; Ganei Hazayit Halls; 34 Admor Mikotzk
Street; 17:00-23:00
Har Nof; 24-Oct-04; Bostoner Shul (downstairs in the Gan
Room); 15 Admor MiRozin Street; 14:00-22:00
Yerushalayim (North); 25-Oct-04; Aperion Halls; Bar Ilan
Street corner of Yirmiyahu; 10:00-17:00
Ramat Beit Shemesh; 26-Oct-04; Beit Haknesses Hagr"a; Nahal
Luz Street; 18:00-22:00
Contact
Main Office; 03-909-6788; achbi@achbi.org
