Time running out for US voters in Barbados

 

Americans living in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean have just a few hours left to submit official election material that would allow their votes to be counted in time for next month’s Presidential Election in the United States.

In a statement issued on the US Embassy’s website, it was noted that US Embassy officials were making one last call for Americans living in Barbados and across the Eastern Caribbean to vote.  It was disclosed that in recent weeks, hundreds of Americans have taken advantage of the Embassy’s voting assistance services, including arriving to the United States Embassy to drop off signed and sealed ballots for delivery to the US Postal Service.

“The US Embassy strongly encourages all Americans who wish to submit any official election materials to do so by Monday, October 19, to ensure that ballots are received at the local election offices by the November 3 deadline.  For Americans who may not be able to physically visit the Embassy by October 19, please note that private couriers . . . may be utilised to guarantee an on-time delivery,” the statement noted.

Voting Assistance Officer Brianna Bailey-Gevlin recently met with a group of Americans for the recent debate between President Trump and former Vice President Biden.  She provided official election materials and answered questions about overseas voting.

“Democracy is not a state; it is an act,” she told the group.  She explained that voting is a civic duty, not just every four years for president, but also during state and local elections.  “Local elections—which are often overlooked or skipped—play as crucial of a role in our democracy as do the presidential elections.  So vote this year and then vote next year and then the year after that,” she added.

Bailey-Gevlin advocated that Americans directly contact their local board of elections for the most accurate information about deadlines, requirements, and procedures, as they may vary by locality. (IMC1)