SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — About 2.9 million Americans who live outside the United States are expected to participate in Tuesday’s election, according to Vote From Abroad, a group that works with the U.S. government to provide assistance to Americans living outside the country.
Some of those voters live in the Tijuana-Northwest region of Baja California.
“I think we need a more reflective America that reaches out to the world community for peace and democracy,” said Desmond Murray, a U.S. citizen in Rosarito Beach, a community located about 20 miles south of the border.
Murray, who is originally from Northern Ireland, said the U.S. needs a president who will unite the populace.
“The country is clearly divided badly, I think someone needs to stabilize it a bit, people need to listen to each other and in the end, we need to be more tolerant, less talk of hate and try to work together as a country and a community.”
When talking to Americans on the streets of Rosarito Beach, you certainly get a sense of division and disagreement as to who should be the next president of the U.S.
“On my ballot is a vote for Donald Trump for president,” said a man who wanted to remain anonymous.
He stated he was from Newport Beach in the Los Angeles area.
“I think Trump is going to be tough on immigration, no doubt about it, but it’s also going to benefit Mexico as well and it’s going to benefit the U.S.”
But a man named Alex, from San Diego, laughed at whether he would support Trump.
“I’m surprised people follow him, he lies about everything, and when he’s caught, he says he didn’t do it, but he lies about almost everything.”
Alex told Border Report he is “more to the left” and would support Harris.
According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. citizens can receive an absentee ballot by email, fax, or internet download, depending on the state they are eligible to vote in, usually their last place of residence in the U.S. before they left the country.
Four years ago, 2.8 million Americans voted from abroad in the presidential election.
Most ballots were sent in from Canada, Great Britain, France and Mexico.
Americans in Japan, Israel and Australia also participated.
The ballots can be sent back in the following ways:
If you have a reliable mail service to the United States, put your ballot in the mail with appropriate international postage.
U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Pouch – You or another person can drop off your ballot request (FPCA) or completed ballot at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for return to the United States. It must be addressed to your local election officials and have sufficient U.S. postage, or be in a postage-paid envelope. A postage-paid envelope is available on the FVAP website. Contact the U.S. embassy voting assistance officer or visit the embassy’s website for specific instructions.
Fax, Email, or Internet – Some states permit electronic transmission of completed ballots. Consult the Voting Assistance Guide for options in your state.
Express Courier Service – If time is short or local mail unreliable, you can use professional courier services such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS at your own expense. NOTE: FedEx does not deliver to P.O. boxes.
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