U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai

Consulate General of the United States of America
American Citizens Services Unit
78, Bhulabhai Desai Road
Mumbai 400 026, India
Telephone: 91 22 2363 3611
Facsimile: 91 22 2367 7026
E-mail: mumbaiacs@state.gov
Website: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov

Dear American citizens:

We bring this warden message to your attention so you can carefully consider the information it contains.  Please pass along the information below to the American citizens in your area or put this information on your notice boards for dissemination.  Thank you for your cooperation.

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Warden Message: Sending Your Ballot

American citizens should have already mailed their absentee ballots for the November 4, 2008 presidential and general elections.  Mail transmission from the U.S. Embassy to the United States takes approximately four (4) days.  Ballots submitted to the U.S. Embassy now may not arrive in the United States by November 4.

Forgot to mail your ballot?

Although the U.S. Embassy can transmit your ballot free of charge, it is too late to guarantee arrival by November 4.  Voters who have not yet mailed their absentee ballots should consider alternate means including express courier.  A few states also accept completed ballots by fax or e-mail.

Check the Voting Assistance Guide for your state’s deadlines and fax/e-mail options.

Ballot hasn’t arrived?

If your ballot has not arrived, use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).  The FWAB serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials.  The FWAB is available at www.fvap.gov or from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If your regular state ballot arrives after you have mailed the FWAB, complete and mail the state ballot as well.

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the American Citizen Services, American Consulate General, Mumbai is available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call (022) 2363 3611 extn: 4306 or send an e-mail to mumbaiacs@state.gov

For additional information on other American Citizen related matters, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov Americans living or traveling in India are encouraged to register with the Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov.  The American Citizen Services of the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone 91-22-2363-3611 extn. 4306; fax 91-22-2367-7026.  The number for after-hours emergencies is 91-22-2363-3611.  The fax number is 91-22-2363-0350.  The Consulate’s email address is mumbaiacs@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for India and the Worldwide Caution, both available at http://travel.state.gov.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

--  The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta (Kolkata) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400 through 2282-3615; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2857-4443. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov.

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Warden Message: Final Reminder to VOTE!

October 17, 2008

Warden Message: Vote NOW!

October 8, 2008

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American citizens should register to vote now for the November 4, 2008 presidential and general elections.  Many states close voter registration 30 days before the general election.  Don’t forget the time it takes for voting forms to reach the U.S. by mail.

Voters who have not yet registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot should complete a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) on the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at www.fvap.gov.  You may also pick up a hard copy of the FPCA from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

You should also complete a new Federal Postcard Application if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted.

FPCAs may be mailed to your local voting officials in the U.S. through the regular international mail or from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  Some states also accept FPCAs by fax or e-mail.

Voting

Your local voting officials should mail your absentee ballot 30 to 45 days before the November 4 general election to your overseas address.  Return your voted ballot as early as possible.  Be aware of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, as well as any postmarking requirements.

Emergency Ballots

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials.  You can access the FWAB using www.fvap.gov as well.

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the American Consulate General in Mumbai, India, is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call 91-22-2363-3611 extn. 4306 or send an e-mail to mumbaiacs@state.gov . 

For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov Americans living or traveling in India are encouraged to register with the Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov.  The American Citizen Services of the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone 91-22-2363-3611 extn. 4306; fax 91-22-2367-7026.  The number for after-hours emergencies is 91-22-2363-3611.  The fax number is 91-22-2363-0350.  The Consulate’s email address is mumbaiacs@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for India and the Worldwide Caution, both available at http://travel.state.gov.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

--  The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.

--  The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta (Kolkata) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400 through 2282-3615; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2857-4443. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov.

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Warden Message: New Website for Overseas Voters

We encourage you to visit the newly redesigned Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov, the official U.S. government website for overseas voters.  The updated website features an automated Voter Registration and Ballot Delivery tool that will greatly improve the vote-by-mail process.

There are two options for overseas voters using the FVAP website:

• Visit www.fvap.gov and click “Get Started” to be directed to an online Federal Postcard Application and instructions for your state; or
• Visit www.fvap.gov and click “Use our New Automated Tool to Register/Request a Ballot” under Quick Links in the lower right-hand corner of the home page.  You will be redirected to www.fvap.com, a fully automated site that requires you to create a user account and password.

Voter Registration & Requesting an Absentee Ballot

Voters who have not yet registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot should do so now using the FVAP website.  You may also pick up a hard copy of the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

You should also complete a new Federal Postcard Application if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted.

Voting

Your local voting officials should mail your absentee ballot 30 to 45 days before the November 4 general election.  Return your voted ballot as early as possible.  Be aware of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, as well as any postmarking requirements.

Emergency Ballots

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials.  You can access the FWAB using www.fvap.gov as well.

Questions?

The Voting Assistance Officer at the American Citizen Services, American Consulate General, Mumbai is always available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call (022) 2363 3611 extn: 4306 or send an e-mail to mumbaiacs@state.gov. 

For additional information on other American Citizen related matters, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov Americans living or traveling in India are encouraged to register with the Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov.  The American Citizen Services of the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone 91-22-2363-3611 extn. 4306; fax 91-22-2367-7026.  The number for after-hours emergencies is 91-22-2363-3611.  The fax number is 91-22-2363-0350.  The Consulate’s email address is mumbaiacs@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for India and the Worldwide Caution, both available at http://travel.state.gov.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

--  The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's Internet home page address is http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.

--  The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta (Kolkata) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400 through 2282-3615; fax +91-33-2282-2335. The Internet home page address is http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2857-4443. The Internet home page address is http://chennai.usconsulate.gov.

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Warden Message: Overseas Absentee Voting

Act now to register to vote and request an absentee ballot for the 2008 presidential and general elections!

Eligibility to Vote

Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are residing outside the United States during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for Federal office.  Some states allow overseas voters to vote in state and local elections as well.

Voting eligibility and residency requirements are determined by the various U.S. states, and are available on-line at http://fvap.gov/pubs/vag.html.  Your "legal state of residence" for voting purposes is the state where you last resided immediately prior to departure from the United States.  Voting rights extend to overseas citizens even though they may no longer own property or have other ties to their last state of residence, and even if their intent to return to that state may be uncertain.  For those who have never resided in the United States, sixteen states allow certain U.S. citizens to register where a parent or spouse would be eligible to vote.

Voter Registration & Requesting an Absentee Ballot

Voters who have not yet registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot should do so now.

1. Complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) using the instructions for your state in the Voting Assistance Guide.  You may pick up a hard copy of the FPCA from any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or use the online version.
2. Sign, date and mail the completed FPCA to the address listed in the Voting Assistance Guide.  If you are sending the FPCA through international mail, please affix appropriate airmail postage.  Alternatively, you can print out a postage-paid address label and ask any U.S. Embassy or Consulate to send your FPCA postage-paid through diplomatic pouch or the military postal service.  Some states allow voters to send in the FPCA by fax, but they also require you to send in the hard copy by mail.  Follow your state’s regulations precisely.
3. Send in a new FPCA if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted.
4. Check your state’s voter registration verification website (http://fvap.gov/vao/stregissites.html), or follow up directly with your local election officials, to confirm that you are registered.

Voting

Your local voting officials should mail your absentee ballot 30 to 45 days before the November 4 general election.  Return your voted ballot as early as possible.  Be aware of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, as well as any postmarking requirements.

Emergency Ballots

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) serves as an emergency ballot for voters who registered in time but fail to receive an official ballot from local election officials.  Please note:  You must register to vote and request an absentee ballot by your state’s deadline - usually 30 days before the election - to be eligible to use the FWAB.  We strongly recommend that voters who have not received their ballot by October 15 complete and return the FWAB to ensure your vote is received in time to be counted.

Questions?

The official U.S. government website for overseas voters is the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website at www.fvap.gov.

The Voting Assistance Officer at the American Consulate General, Mumbai is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting.  To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call 91-22-2363 3611 extn 4306 or send an e-mail to mumbaiacs@state.gov.