Democrats have a chance to vote in Costa Rica

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Democrats Abroad Costa Rica with more than 1,100 active members, it is the largest political organization of U.S. citizens expats living in Costa Rica. - A.M. Costa Rica wire service photo -
- Published: Thursday, February 13, 2020 - Democrats have a chance to vote in Costa Rica By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire service Democrats Abroad Costa Rica announced Wednesday its participation in the U.S. Global Presidential Primary to be conducted at 220 voting centers in 45 countries around the globe. According to the organization, with more than 1,100 active members, it is the largest political organization of U.S. citizens expats living in Costa Rica. "We, of course, do not get involved in Costa Rican politics," said Democrats Abroad in its statement. "Our focus is on U.S. elections." Democrats living in every state, territory, the District of Columbia, and even in foreign countries will have the opportunity to participate in primary elections or caucuses to help decide who will become the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. president. "The winner will then take on Donald Trump in the general election in November," said the Democrats Abroad. One of the most important days during this process will be March 3, or “Super Tuesday,” when 15 states hold their primaries. For millions of people watching the U.S. elections, Super Tuesday will be the most important day before the general elections in November. With hundreds of voting centers around the world in every time zone, Super Tuesday will include Democrats who can vote abroad. "This is the most important presidential primary election in a generation, and the global presidential primary is the opportunity that Democrats living abroad have to impact this important decision," said the party. According to the party, for many U.S. citizens abroad, this is the only chance they’ll have to cast a ballot in-person during the 2020 elections. Voting centers will be made available in every country where the international organization has an active country committee. Voters may register in-person or by going to the Democrats Abroad website. Participation is open to Democrats Abroad members who would like to vote via mail-in ballot, fax and email. Voters may download a ballot from the Democrats Abroad website starting Tuesday. Voters vote for one candidate for the Democratic presidential nominee must meet the following criteria: - Be a resident abroad and be a U.S. citizen. - Be a member of Democrats Abroad. - Be 18 years old as of Nov. 3, 2020. - Not have voted, nor plan to vote, in any other state’s 2020 presidential primary. The Costa Rican organization is holding several ballot assistant events for Democrats who may not be able to make it to a voting center, at the following dates: - Tuesday at Tinamaste Soda Peña from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Saturday, Feb. 22, at Green Room Café in Jacó Beach, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The same day at Puerto & Co. in Puerto Viejo in Limón from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Thursday, Feb. 27, at Jalapeños Mex. Rest. in Alajuela, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Saturday, Feb. 29, at Tin Jo Asian Restaurant, in San José downtown, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Democrats Abroad in Costa Rica, will staff 10 voting centers in the country during early March, as follow: - Tuesday, March 3, at La Hacienda Restaurant in Escazú from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Wednesday, March 4, at Octubre 29 Gastropub in San Ramón, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also on this day, at the feria in Uvita, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Thursday, March 5, at Grecia Mall, in Grecia, Alajuela Province, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same day at the feria in San Isidro, in Pérez Zeledón, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Friday, March 6, in La Terraza Restaurant, in Atenas in Alajuela Province, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Saturday, March 7, at Biblioteca David Kitsen in Nosara from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also that day at Balú Restaurant in Quepos, Puntarenas Province, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Sunday, March 8, at Tin Jo Asian Restaurant, in San Jose downtown, from 12 noon at 5 p.m. - Tuesday, March 10, at Tico Lingo Spanish School in Heredia, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The international Democrats Abroad sends 21 delegates to the Democratic National Convention and their votes will be cast proportionally, based on the results of the Global Presidential Primary, said the organization. "With 11 candidates in the running, this is your chance to cast your ballot for the person you want to run for president," said the party in its statement. There are fewer candidates now following the New Hampshire primaries Tuesday. Volunteers from Vote from Abroad will also be on hand to assist U.S. citizens in registering/requesting their ballots for the 2020 elections. To vote in the 2020 federal elections, U.S. citizens living abroad can request a ballot using the Federal Post Card Application, a dual-purpose form used to request the ballot and to register as a voter if the person has not already done so. U.s. citizens living abroad usually can vote in the U.S. State in which they last lived. "If for any reason you are unable to come to the voting centers, for the vast majority of states, you can still out and send your FPCA via email from the following website: VoteFromAbroad.org," said Democrats Abroad in its statement. "This year, more than any in your lifetime, your vote counts. Please tell your friends and spread the word." Anyone with questions can call the Vote From Abroad Costa Rica at (506) 8428-6792 or contact Steve Johnson, home phone (506) 2268-0485 or cell (506) 7106-9505. According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the first step for an easy vote in the coming U.S. presidential election is to start by confirming your voter registration with your state. “Some states require absentee voters to register annually so you may need to re-register,” said the program in its statement. “Go to FVAP.gov to connect to your state’s voter portal to register to vote, request a ballot, and more,” said the program, sponsored by a number of U.S. government departments. The program listed a few simple steps to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections: Request Your Ballot: Most states provide the option to request ballots through their state election portals, which you can easily access via FVAP.gov. You can also choose to complete the Federal Post Card Application. The completion of the post card allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (president, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. Post card forms that are correctly filled out and include a signature and date are accepted by all local election officials in every U.S. state and territory. The assistance program's easy online assistant can assist those who wish in completing the post card. “Whether you request your ballot through your state’s portal or the FPCA, we encourage you to select the option for receiving your ballot electronically (by email, internet download, or fax) when available. This is the fastest way for you to get your ballot and ensures you have it in time to return a completed form before your state’s deadline,” said the program in its announcement. Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and state generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. Most states allow you to confirm your ballot delivery online. Return Your Completed, Signed Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through U.S. Embassy San Jose’s diplomatic pouch. The diplomatic pouch provides free mail service from embassies and consulates to a U.S. sorting facility. Voters will need to place a ballot in a postage-paid return envelope or in an envelope bearing sufficient U.S. postage, in order for them to be delivered to the proper local election authorities. If using the diplomatic pouch, ballots can be dropped off to the American Citizens Services section at the U.S. Embassy’s main entrance on business days between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The embassy noted that all visitors to the embassy are subject to security screening, and you will not be permitted to bring electronic devices, including cell phones, inside the facility. Please note that it can take up to two weeks for mail to reach its destination if sent by an embassy or consulate via diplomatic pouch. All overseas U.S. citizens are advised to submit their forms and ballots accordingly, the embassy added. Researching the Candidates and Issues: Voters can go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program links page for helpful resources to aid research on candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain on-line. You can also read national and hometown newspapers online or search the internet to locate articles and information. The assistance program is run by the U.S. Department of Defense initially to help service men and women abroad to participate in U.S. elections. More information about election dates and deadlines can be reached at Federal Voting Assistance Program email address vote@fvap.gov or by visiting the website FVAP.gov. ----------------------- Are you already registered to vote? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com	Booking.com