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United States Consulate General Guadalajara

Warden Message #2 FY2008

Voting Information for the 2008 – Primary and General Elections.

November 2007
This is a reminder that in just two months we will be entering the U. S. presidential and state primary season. Five primaries are currently slated for January, another 20 are scheduled for February, and the rest take place from early March through early October. Registration for the first primary (the District of Columbia) closes December 10, 2007. We encourage you to act now so that your opinion is heard – not only in the November 2008 presidential and general elections, but also in the presidential primary and state primary elections! The official U.S. Government website for overseas absentee voting assistance is the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website www.fvap.gov.

Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are or will be residing outside the United States during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for Federal office. This includes primary, run-off, and special elections that occur throughout the year, as well as the general election in November 2008. Some states allow overseas voters to vote in elections for state and local offices, and for state and local referendums.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 U.S., sixteen states, to date, allow eligible U.S. citizens to register where a parent would be eligible to vote.

To register to vote and/or apply for an absentee ballot, you can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The on-line version, the OFPCA, is accepted by all states and territories except American Samoa and Guam. Voters from American Samoa and Guam must use the standard form of the FPCA, available at the Consulate General or through many American civic groups. The on-line OFPCA form must be completed legibly, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your local election officials. Your state may allow faxing to speed the process, but you will still need to send in the original by mail. Use an envelope and affix proper postage. The official U.S. Government website for overseas absentee voting assistance, www.fvap.gov, has a wealth of information about absentee voting, including the state-specific instructions for completing the FPCA form, links to state and local officials, and a downloadable emergency ballot for use by those who register in time but fail to receive an official ballot.

As a general rule, you should try to send in the FPCA so that it reaches your local election officials at least forty-five days before the first election in which you are eligible to vote --- ample time for them to process the request and send you a blank ballot. If applying for both registration and an absentee ballot, you may want to mail the FPCA earlier. One FPCA will qualify you to receive all ballots for Federal offices for the next two regular Federal elections (through 2010). However, we recommend that you submit a new FPCA in January of every year, and whenever you move, to ensure that your most recent mailing and e-mail addresses are on file with your local election officials.

Under normal circumstances, most states and territories begin sending ballots to overseas citizens 30-45 days before an election. However, if you haven’t received your ballot within three weeks of your state’s ballot receipt deadline, and you are required to return your voted ballot by mail, you should download, complete, sign, date, and send in a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html. Make sure it is witnessed if required by your state. If you subsequently receive your regular absentee ballot, execute it and return it regardless of when you receive it. Court decisions sometimes require late counting of ballots voted by Election Day, but received by local election officials for a specified period of time following Election Day.

Be an Educated Voter

Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues is widely available and easy to obtain via the Internet. Use the links appearing on the FVAP website at http://www.fvap.gov/links/otherlinks.html , read your hometown newspaper on-line, or search the Internet to locate articles and information.

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 (Vice Consul Leah George; email address acsgdl@state.gov).

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Warden Message #3FY2007

March 22, 2007
In light of continued drug-related violence in various parts of Mexico, we are repeating our Public Announcement of September 15, 2006, which contains good advice regarding your personal safety.

September 15, 2006

This message alerts U.S. citizens to the rising level of brutal violence in areas of Mexico. This violence has occurred throughout Mexico, but has been particularly persistent in the city of Nuevo Laredo within the state of Tamaulipas. This Public Announcement expires on April 17, 2007.

U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise extreme caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Public sources suggest that narcotics-related violence has claimed 1,500 lives in Mexico this year. In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican and U.S. citizens in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero and other states.

U.S. citizens have also been victims of random shootings on major highways outside of Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana and other areas throughout Mexico. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo, with more than two dozen cases still unresolved; recent incidents indicate a possible resurgence of kidnappings for ransom. Mexican police and other government figures have been murdered in Guerrero, Nuevo Leon, the Federal District, Tamaulipas and other states. Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros.

Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens are targeted, criminals look for every opportunity to take advantage of unwary travelers. U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify officials as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which are generally more secure. It is preferable for U.S. citizens to stay in well-known tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities with more adequate security, and provide an itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling with them. U.S. citizens should refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov.

For any emergencies involving American citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy's Internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

Consulates:
Ciudad Juarez: Avenida Lopez Mateos 924-N, telephone (52)(656) 611-3000.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100.
Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros, Local 4 (52) (322)222-0069
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402.
Merida: Calle 60 No. 338 K, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 345-2120.
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400.

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Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

As of January 23, 2007, all U.S. CITIZENS are required to present a PASSPORT when traveling to the United States from Mexico via airplane or leaving the United States on an international flight. As soon as January 1, 2008, the same passport requirement may be implemented for the land and sea entry. Applications for passports can be made Monday through Friday from 8:30AM-12:00PM at the consulate.

A partir del 23 de enero de 2007, todos los ciudadanos Americanos que entren o salgan de los Estados Unidos por avión necesitan PASAPORTE AMERICANO vigente. Para el 1 de enero de 2008 o posteriormente los ciudadanos americanos, que viajen a México por tierra o mar (incluidos los viajes en transbordadores) se les podrá exigir la presentación de un pasaporte vigente. Puede solicitar su pasaporte de lunes a viernes de 8:30AM a 12:00PM en el consulado.

Consular Outreach Visit to Tepic, Nayarit -

A consular team will visit Tepic, Nayarit next week on Thursday, January 18th. They will be at City Hall from 10AM – 1:00PM, and they will provide the following services:

- Passport renewals for adults and minors,
- First time passport for adults and minors,
- Distributing packets for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and
- Notarials.

Fees:

First time passport application adult (over 16 years): 97 USD (1115.50 MEX)

First time passport application minor (under 16 years): 82 USD (943.00 MEX)

Renewal passport application for 10 year passports: 67 USD (770.50 MEX)

Renewal passport application minor (previous 5 year passport): 82 USD (943.00 MEX) or 97 USD (1115.50 MEX)

Notarial: 30 USD (345.00 MEX) for first seal, 20 USD (230 MEX) for each additional seal of related business

Exact change is required. Favor de tener la cantidad exacta.

Tepic City Hall
Palacio Municipal (no number)
Colonia Centro

Tepic, Nayarit

Presidencia Municipal de Tepic
Palacio Municipal (sin numero)

Colonia Centro
Tepic, Nayarit

Thursday, January 18th, 2007 – 10:00AM – 1:00PM
El día Jueves 18 de Enero 2007 de las 10:00 AM hasta a la 1:00PM

Monthly Consular Outreach Trip to Chapala, Jalisco

On Wednesday, February 7th, a consular team will visit the American Legion #7 in Chapala (10AM to 12PM) and the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic (12PM to 2PM) for our standard monthly visit.

The following services will be offered:

- PPT renewals for adults and minors,
- First time PPTs for adults and minors,
- Distributing packets for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and
- Notarials.

Please see above for prices. Exact change is required.

American Legion Post #7
Morelos 114
Chapala, Jalisco
Tel: (376) 765-2259

The Lake Chapala Society
16 de Septiembre 16 -A
APDO No. 177
Ajijic, Jalisco
Tel: (376) 766-1140

Consular Services Closed to the Public

The American Citizen Services Unit and the Federal Benefits Unit will be closed for training purposes on Wednesday, February 14, 2007. We will reopen for business the following day. In the event of a real emergency, consular staff will be available to assist U.S. citizens.