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Registered US Voters Urged to Send Absentee Ballots

DUBAI — The American diplomatic missions in the UAE have urged registered voters to send absentee ballots to their respective states as soon as possible even as the November 4 presidential election date nears.

“The US embassy and consulate have sent e-mails, text messages and disseminated information on voting. It is one of our highest priorities to encourage all American citizens to vote and help them access the many means of facilitating casting their ballot and doing their civic duty as voters. Americans, who have registered to vote, must send their ballots now,” said Steven L. Pike, Counsellor for Press and Cultural Affairs, US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times. The ballot has to be received by the local election official before or on the date of the election.

“The missions have couriered several hundred absentee ballots to American residents in the UAE, who had approached the US missions. The first envelopes went out three weeks ago. The embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai usually send out 12-14 large FedEx envelopes, to the Department of State, containing several hundred absentee ballots,” added Pike.

Americans living in the UAE are eagerly looking forward to the presidential election. Some have already cast their absentee ballot votes. “I have already registered to vote as an absentee ballot and sent in my vote a week ago for Barack Obama. I really hope he wins and becomes the next president of the United States. More than the fact that he is African American, I think the generational shift he represents is very exciting. He stands for an entirely new generation of leaders compared to John McCain, George Bush or even Bill Clinton,” said Kate Lydecker, a visiting consultant in Dubai.

Firas Kayal, who moved to Dubai recently, however, said he had not registered for an absentee ballot vote. “I am not voting this year, though I was very keen to be a part of the excitement. I am not very familiar with the absentee ballot and besides my new job has kept me really busy. However, there is so much anticipation and I hope Obama wins the race,” he added.

preeti@khaleejtimes.com