Hola,
This from the US Consulate:
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.
http://www.fvap.gov/
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 United States Consulate in
Guadalajara is also always available to answer questions about
absentee voting.
To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call (011 52 33 3268 2273)
or send an e-mail to (acsgdl@state.gov).
From the Turtle Association:
Please participate in the conservation and protection of endangered
marine sea turtles found in all oceans and beaches of Mexico. In
Nayarit State, sea turtle nesting season is underway June through
December. Females come ashore, primarily at night to excavate a nest,
lay their eggs and bury them before returning to sea. Male turtles
remain at sea. All six species of sea turtles, which nest in Mexico,
are endangered worldwide. The reproduction of baby sea turtles is
critical to their survival. Your support during the turtle
reproductive season is very important.
If you see a turtle on the beach:
Turn off all lights (flashlights, lighters, and spotlights) that could
disturb the sea turtle as she arrives on the beach or is leaving the
beach after she lays her eggs. Reduce ambient noise, distinguish
cigarettes, and minimize activity in the vicinity of the turtle.
Control dogs and children.
If you see a turtle on the beach, do not touch her, stay at least 15
feet away, and let her finish laying her eggs undisturbed before she
returns to sea.
Sea turtles are frightened of light flash from cameras, do not take
photographs or shine flashlights into their eyes.
During sea turtle nesting season, minimize bonfires on the beach.
If you walk on the beach at night with a flashlight, place a red
filter over the light to reduce the brightness. Turn off outdoor
lights or face lights downward or use amber light bulbs to reduce
glare.
If you find sea turtle hatchlings on the beach, do not keep in
captivity or put directly into the ocean. They need to be placed on
the sand above the high tide line facing the waves so they can scuttle
into the ocean across the sand into the oncoming surf. This journey
is critical as they imprint on their natal beach and will return to
lay their own eggs as adults. Ensure that all baby turtles enter the
ocean in this manner.
Do not relocate or move any nest contents. Only biologists permitted
by SEMARNAT/CONANP to manage sea turtle programs are authorized to
work with turtles during the nesting season.
Do not acquire or consume eggs or any products derived from the sea turtles.
Keep the beaches clean. Do not throw garbage into ocean, especially
plastic bags because sea turtles confuse them for food. Motorized ATV
and vehicle use is prohibited on nesting beaches year around.
Denounce harmful acts against sea turtles to the Authorities to
PROFEPA. To be in possession of sea turtles or sea turtle products,
including eggs is a federal crime which can result in incarceration
from six months up to six years and economic fines from 1,000 to
50,000 pesos.
For more information on the Mexican governmental branches authorizing
sea turtle protection, conservation, and enforcement programs, see:
National Commission on Natural Protected Areas (CONANP)
www.conanp.gob.mx.prioridades_tortugas.html.
Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) -
www.semarnat.gob.mx
Federal Office of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA)
www.profepa.gob.mx./PROFEPA/DenunciasyQuejas
Pie In the Sky is extending its Happy Hour(two for one coffee,
espresso, lattes, etc) from 10:00-12:00 on Tuesday morning to include
all day Thursday and Thursday night.
Quinta di Francesco is now open seven days a week, from 5 p.m.,
Jalisco. It is located on Agustin Melgar, one block toward the
highway from Espressions.
Need caring homes for 2 adult female tiger cats (about a year of age)
and 2 female tiger kittens (about 6 months of age); 2 will make great
outdoor cats and 2 can be loved to become indoor kitties (have worked
with them for about 3 months now, and have socialized them to people).
If interested or know of someone, please call Cathy at 322-297-7967.
--
Valiene
casavaliene@gmail.com
