U.S. embassy calls for Americans in the Czech Republic to vote via diplomatic post

Prague, Sept 30 (CTK) -- The U.S. embassy in Prague is calling on U.S. nationals living in the Czech Republic to get out the vote.

The embassy is asking Americans in the Czech Republic to join the postal voting initiative for the upcoming U.S. presidential elections by submitting their vote through the embassy by the Friday deadline.

The embassy writes on its website: "Many U.S. elections for house and senate have been decided by a margin smaller than the number of ballots cast by absentee voters." It goes on to say that all states are required to count every absentee ballot as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline.

U.S. embassies allow American citizens abroad the opportunity to cast their ballot at the embassy. Ballots are subsequently sent to the respective states by diplomatic post.

The U.S. embassy in Prague said the transfer of the ballots to the respective polling station will take up three to four weeks and it's calling on U.S. nationals who want to take part in the embassy's mailing to submit their ballot by this Friday at the latest.

U.S. citizens living abroad can also cast their vote by sending their ballots via Czech post. The mailing must reach the respective election ward in the U.S. before the polling stations are closed.

The U.S. presidential elections take place on November 3, with incumbent Republican President Donald Trump seeking re-election against Democrat opponent and former vice-president Joe Biden.

The embassy is open daily on workdays, despite the current coronavirus epidemic. Ballots can be dropped off at the American Citizens Services unit any business day from 8:30 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 3 p.m.

Those delivering their ballots should bring a form of ID, preferably a U.S. passport. Ballots should be sealed but will be x-rayed. 

Ballots must be placed in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. domestic postage so they may be delivered to the proper local election authorities (postage from the Czech Republic to the United States is not required).  

For more details visit the embassy's dedicated page to voting in U.S. elections.