Time runs short for expatriate American voters

By ALEXIS GRANT

Five days before the US presidential election, dozens of Americans living in New Zealand have not received absentee ballots they applied for.

"We've had a huge number of people indicating that they have not received a ballot, or the ballot they received looks unusual," said Mark Chubb, New Zealand chairman of Democrats Abroad.

For most states, absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday.

This close to the election, Americans who applied for an absentee ballot but have not yet received it should not wait any longer, say staff at the US Embassy in Wellington.

Instead, they should use the on-line version of the federal write-in absentee ballot at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website. They can also contact the US Embassy or Consulate for help.

Polls show a close race between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry, so every vote counts.

Mr Chubb said about 40 Democrat voters had contacted him in the past three weeks because they had not received the ballot papers they applied for.

And about two dozen Americans have contacted their embassy because they have not received papers.

Only one American who did not receive her ballot contacted Republicans Abroad, said New Zealand chairman Bill Bailey.

US vice-consul Keith Hughes about 20,000 Americans lived in New Zealand.

"If the numbers are higher this year, it's probably only proportionate to the number of people who are asking for absentee ballots," he said.

Election officials and voter-rights groups say the main reason some overseas voters haven't yet received ballot papers is probably that county election boards are overwhelmed by the number of people registering at the last minute.

More people are expected to vote in this election than in the 2000 election.

Erin Donovan, a Kiwi who works at the US Consulate in Auckland, said more Americans had expressed an interest in voting this year than in the 2000 presidential election.

"It was so quiet in 2000," Ms Donovan said. "It didn't have this intensity."

How to vote

For Americans who registered to vote and applied for an absentee ballot but have not received it, it's not too late.

Visit Federal Voting Assistance Program to complete the On-Line Version of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.

Need help? Call or visit the US Consulate in Auckland, at 23 Custom St East. It will even send a ballot by overnight mail until noon on Monday.