Hey Everyone!
Once again another round of thank yous must go to my fabulous Peplinski half of the family. Thank you so much for the great party and all of the well wishes. It was great to see all of you and spend time at one of my favorite MI locations, Leelanaw County. Thank you all you are amazing and I couldn’t do this without your support.
It’s hard to believe I depart in less than 4 days. It’s just crazy! I am working on getting everything together to go and have run into a bit of trouble that I was hoping someone out there could help me with. A few weeks ago I went to my city office here in Montrose, MI to apply for an absentee ballot. I explained my situation to the desk clerk and asked her if the ballots would be in before Sept 27th so I could vote. She assured me that the ballots would be arriving on Sept 20th and if I brought my absentee ballot back during the week before I left then I could vote before I departed. Well, I went in the city office again yesterday and was informed that there was something wrong with the county ballots and they had to be shipped back. The office told me that they were unsure if the ballots would be in by Friday. Now normally, the office would send a ballot to my house or whatever address I need them to send it to, but because I am joining the Peace Corps mail takes 3 weeks to get to volunteers in Turkmenistan. I am assuming that it would take the same amount of time to get back getting my ballot back to be counted by mid to late November, thus my absentee ballot would be too late to be counted for the election. So my basic question for everyone is what do I do? How do I vote?
People who have spent a considerable amount of time with me know that voting in an election is very important to me. I believe that voting is one of the only real ways normal American citizens can have a say in how their lives are dictated. It is, in my opinion, our civic duty to be informed and vote. I also hate the stereotype that is out there about 18-30 year olds and voting and am trying to prove that stereotype wrong. So for the past year and a half that’s what I have been doing. I have been informing and involving myself in the political process. I have watched debate after debate, convention after convention, explored both parties policies and stances, explored my own values and beliefs, and finally landed on a candidate to support. And I have supported this campaign: I have defended it in my own debates, whether at CMU or my local McDonalds, and given money to the campaign because this candidate is a candidate that I truly believe in. Now I feel like all of my work has been for nothing. If I can’t vote in this election, the most historic presidential election of my lifetime, then it is all for nothing. I believe in my country and the democratic process, shoot I am going to go serve my country for 2 years in the Peace Corps, and now I feel like that democratic process in failing me because my voice might not be heard.
Anything anyone can do to help me out would be great. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you!
I would look at and maybe ask your Peace Corps people about the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot at fvap.gov. The Turkmenistan U.S. Embassy website says that it can send absentee ballots in the U.S. gov. mail system…not sure if that’s faster than what you would use normally or not. There must be a way….what a frustrating thing. I hope something works!!
Abby, I agree with Sista Laurin the previous comment. The Peace Corps must have an answer re the voting process. The military assigned overseas have a process.
Saw a historical news cast on the Peace Corps. Made me proud. Love GP
PC Bulgaria sent us this: Downloading a Federal Absentee Write-in Ballot on-line – If you don’t receive your absentee ballot on time and ARE already registered to vote as an absentee voter, you can download a Federal Absentee Write-in Ballot at: https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/overseas/home.htm You’ll need to click on “Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot” towards the lower left of the home page. You’ll need to print it out and can give it to Peace Corps office to mail it.
You have to have registered absentee already, but I am assuming you had…
Haven’t tried it, but our director did. Give it a look!!
I know you are leaving today, but I just got internet access, so I hope you can work something out!!
LOVE YOU BFF!?!?!?!?!