Register to vote!

[biobook]

Anyone have any experience with overseas voting?

I don't, but I can tell you what I found online, and you can ask older bachurim who've been there last year what they did. Or maybe someone here can vet this.

I am a bachur learning in Israel, is that considered living overseas?

Yes:

"Students studying abroad
If you are living overseas for an extended period during an election season and will need to vote absentee, use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to request your absentee ballot. Your voting residence will continue to be your last residence prior to leaving the United States to study abroad.

Your voting residence is your address in the state in which you were last domiciled, immediately prior to leaving the United States.

It is important to remember that your voting residence address listed on the FPCA must be an address in the United States. Placing an overseas address in Section 2 of the form may automatically disqualify you."
https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/voting-residence

That link is for ALL states.  The FPCA lets you choose whether you want them to send the ballot by mail or email, so obviously email will get it to you faster.

If your US address is in NYS, you can find the same information here:
https://elections.ny.gov/military-and-overseas-federal-voting

I cannot figure out what format to write my Israel mailing address.

Not clear what you mean by "format".  Write the address in English letters - whatever address your family would use to mail you something.  Does it go to a POB, or to your name, c/o the yeshiva address?

Can I right my US mailing address if I am requesting a ballot by email?

You should use your US mailing address in Section 2, and your Israel mailing address in Section 3.

The form you should be using is here:
https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/05/federal-post-card-application-2023.pdf

You need to print this form and send it by regular mail, adding overseas postage from Israel.  Perhaps there's someone returning soon to the US who can be trusted to carry the post-card to America and drop it in a mailbox, in which case it doesn't need postage and will arrive sooner. 

ETA: In most US states, you need to register first, then request a ballot.  But if you're overseas and have never registered before, you just need to fill out this federal post card application, which serves to both register you and to request the ballot at the same time.

[yfr bachur]

I don't, but I can tell you what I found online, and you can ask older bachurim expats who've been there last year what they did. Or maybe someone here can vet this.

That's me... 

There's no reason a bachur who just came and will be here for a year or so with multiple visits to the US in the interim, should be voting the federal postcard ballot. They can vote regular absentee which includes the state and local races, especially since many states now allow for email delivery of the ballot.

You can return the ballot itself by droping it off at the embassy where it will be sent to the US via diplomatic pouch.

[biobook]

That's me... 

There's no reason a bachur who just came and will be here for a year or so with multiple visits to the US in the interim, should be voting the federal postcard ballot.

It seems there IS a reason, the reason being that's what the Board of Elections requires.

But I think that what you're saying is that a bochur learning in Israel, who is already registered to vote in a US state, can get away with requesting a regular absentee ballot in their home state, and receiving that ballot by email even though they're not at that physical address.  Is that right?

You can return the ballot itself by droping it off at the embassy where it will be sent to the US via diplomatic pouch.

Has this worked for you?  That is, you request a ballot saying that you live in a US state, and then print it and mail it from overseas?

The US Embassy instructions for overseas voters are here:
https://il.usembassy.gov/message-to-u-s-citizens-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-6/

They mention "Be aware that it can take four weeks or more for mail to reach its destination via diplomatic pouch"

[yfr bachur]

It seems there IS a reason, the reason being that's what the Board of Elections requires.

Don't see that on the NYS BOE website at all. I don't see why a bachur doesn't fit into the following especialy if he plans to return to the states.

Qualifications to Vote by Early Mail Ballot
Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves....

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot
Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day...

But I think that what you're saying is that a bochur learning in Israel, who is already registered to vote in a US state, can get away with requesting a regular absentee ballot in their home state, and receiving that ballot by email even though they're not at that physical address.  Is that right?

Yes, that's the point of absentee ballots - when you will not be at home on the day of the elections.

Has this worked for you?  That is, you request a ballot saying that you live in a US state, and then print it and mail it from overseas?

I live in IL, so I do the overseas ballot sent to me by my BOE, some years I've returned the pysical ballot they sent, some years one I downloaded.

The US Embassy instructions for overseas voters are here:
https://il.usembassy.gov/message-to-u-s-citizens-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-6/
They mention "Be aware that it can take four weeks or more for mail to reach its destination via diplomatic pouch"

Usually MUCH faster, and in most states if your ballot is postmarked in the US by election day, and arrives within a week or so it will count.
Just procrastinate later, and send the ballot right when you get it, and you'll be fine.

[biobook]

Don't see that on the NYS BOE website at all. I don't see why a bachur doesn't fit into the following especialy if he plans to return to the states.

New York State explains Ways to Vote https://elections.ny.gov/ways-vote

That page offers two options:
 
Request a Ballot -Information on requesting an early mail ballot or absentee ballot.
https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot

Military and Overseas Voting - Complete a Federal Post Card Application to receive an absentee ballot if you or your family are in the military or reside overseas.
https://elections.ny.gov/military-and-overseas-federal-voting

You've cited information from the first link, while someone residing or studying overseas should have followed the second link.

[biobook]

I live in IL, so I do the overseas ballot sent to me by my BOE, some years I've returned the pysical ballot they sent, some years one I downloaded.

Illinois does seem to expect the FPCA. 
https://www.fvap.gov/illinois

Other states can be checked at https://www.fvap.gov/guide

[zh cohen]

I think all states TRY to do this, but it's not so simple. 

According to this advocacy group (which is against the practice) only 20 states do this.

https://www.lgbtmap.org/democracy-maps/voter_roll_purges

If you click on the citation tab, it has details for each state.

They may send a letter saying "You haven't voted in X years, let us know within two weeks if you're still at this address."  But you're on vacation, so when you get home you find out you're unregistered.  Or you don't read your mail, and find out only when you go to vote.

Or you may be someone who chooses to vote only for presidential elections, or someone with work or health or caretaking expectations that make voting difficult, so culling a list after 2 years of non-voting ends up requiring lots of people to re-register.

I agree that missing one election should not be enough, and a two week notice is also not enough.

People who move and drive, may have their voter registration updated automatically in the new location when they update their driver's license address.

That only helps if they move within a state, but not from one state to another.

My suggestion is that the voter registration form should ask if you were previously registered elsewhere, and if you answer yes, the state should automatically notify the previous state.

I moved out of NY and they make it complicated to cancel my registration (especially when compared with how easy they make it to register). You have to submit a written letter to your county board of elections (email doesn't work).

ETA: This, from Florida, seems reasonable

Removal is initiated after not voting in two general elections. Voter is then sent notice and has 30 days to respond. If voter does not respond and does not vote in next two general elections, voter is removed

.

[biobook]

Teach Coalition, which advocates for government support of education in yeshivas and day schools, has put up a website on voting.
https://teachcoalition.org/vote/

It provides a link about voting for those living overseas and shows the requirement for the federal postcard, so this seems to imply that a yeshiva bochur should request that.  There's a contact number there for phone/text/whatsapp, if anyone wants to confirm and post here.

[yfr bachur]

Vote early, vote often!   

Agav, The ease of mail ballot election fraud in NY, astounds me. All you need is a copy of the persons signature.

I know someone who literaly filled out and returned ballots for his entire extended family.