Embassy of the United States of America in El Salvador

October 19, 2007

MISSOURI TO ALLOW DESIGNATED ABSENTEE VOTERS TO RETURN THEIR VOTED BALLOT FOR THE FEBRUARY 5, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BY EMAIL OR FAX

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has declared that voters who are in Federal service and are eligible to receive hostile fire, imminent danger pay, or are in a location designated as a combat zone by the IRS (see http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108331,00.html), may return their voted ballots by fax or email. This declaration applies only for the February 5, 2008 Presidential Preference Primary election.

Under Missouri election law, a person in Federal service includes:

(a) Members of the armed forces of the United States, while in active service, and their spouses and dependents;

(b) Active members of the merchant marine of the United States and their spouses and dependents;

(c) Civilian employees of the United States government working outside the boundaries of the United States, and their spouses and dependents;

(d) Active members of religious or welfare organizations assisting servicemen, and their spouses and dependents;

(e) Persons who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces or who have terminated their service or employment in any group mentioned in this section within sixty days of an election, and their spouses and dependents.

Missouri does not allow UOCAVA citizens to receive their blank absentee ballot by fax or email. The absentee ballot must be mailed to the citizen. Absentee ballots for the Presidential Preference Primary will be available by December 24, 2007.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
State specific information on your precinct, candidates, elections, and voting is available at the Missouri Secretary of State website, http://www.sos.mo.gov/.

The FVAP can be contacted via 1-800-438-8683 and by using the toll-free numbers from 67 countries listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov/ . Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC, 20301-1155, and at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.