Denver County, Colorado Absentee Ballots Delayed

There has been a delay by Denver County , Colorado in the mailing of absentee ballots to some Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) citizens for the November 2, 2004 general election.

The Secretary of State of Colorado has extended the deadline for the receipt of absentee ballots from UOCAVA voters by ten days up to and including November 12, 2004 . Ballots must be cast by 7:00 p.m. mountain standard time on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 and received by 5:00 p.m. on November 12, 2004 .

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides the following guidance to UOCAVA citizens from Denver County , Colorado for the November 2, 2004 general election.

Citizens located outside the United States (including APO/FPO addresses) who have applied for a regular ballot early enough so that the request is received by the appropriate local election official at least 30 days before the election, and have not received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state should vote the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). FWABs may be obtained from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a Unit Voting Assistance Officer, an overseas citizen organization such as the Democrats Abroad or Republicans International Abroad, or use the official on-line version of the FWAB that is available at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html.

Citizens who receive their Colorado State absentee ballot after submitting the FWAB should vote and submit their regular state absentee ballot. Ballots must be cast by 7:00 p.m. mountain standard time on Tuesday, November 2, 2004 and received by 5:00 p.m. on November 12, 2004 . Please refer to the FVAP Voting News Release #15 of October 15, 2004 . Citizens should note on the state absentee ballot envelope that a FWAB was submitted.

If the voter's official absentee ballot is received by the deadline described above, the state absentee ballot will supersede and replace the FWAB.

Colorado allows you to fax the voted ballot. Fax your voted ballot using the following numbers: DSN 223-5527 (military), (703) 693-5527, or from 51 overseas toll-free fax numbers found at www.fvap.gov. You may also fax direct to the Denver Election Commission at (720) 913-8600. Faxed ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. mountain standard time on November 2, 2004 .

VAOs should contact those citizens they assist who are Denver County, Colorado voters, inform them of this news release, and provide help to them in returning their absentee ballots.

Further information on elections and voting in Colorado is available at the website, www.sos.state.co.us. If you have questions about your absentee ballot, the Denver Elections Office can be contacted at: Denver.absentee@ci.denver.co.us.

The FVAP can be contacted through the DoD Voting Information Center (VIC). Citizens may reach the VIC toll-free from 64 countries using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, www.fvap.gov. The VIC provides recorded messages from candidates, as well as other information concerning elections, 24 hours a day.

uestions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington , DC 20301-1155 . Additionally, the FVAP can be reached via e-mail at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.