Jaltemba Sol...a webzine for those who love Mexico

American citizens living in the Costa Banderas region will have no excuse for not voting in the U.S. General Elections on November 4, 2008. The Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico is offering assistance for eligible voters to request and mail their absentee ballots.

You do not have to be a Democrat to take advantage of the service. The project is non-partisan, and open to any eligible voter from any political party in the U.S.

It is strongly recommended that eligible voters request their ballots as soon as possible, in order to assure that the ballot is received, voted, and mailed back in time to be counted. Democrats Abroad recommends that absentee ballots be requested no later than October 1st.

Voting in the General Election cannot be done via the Internet, and having voted in Primary Elections does not automatically mean you will be sent an absentee ballot. Your absentee ballot must be requested by an approved format that includes your signature. This form must be mailed to your local US Board of Elections. When the absentee ballots for your jurisdiction are printed, yours will be mailed to you here in Mexico. Once received, you will vote your preference, and the voted ballot, double-sealed in envelopes and signed, must be mailed back to be counted.

Democrats Abroad, Costa Banderas Chapter is assisting eligible voters in two ways:

1. On any Wednesday afternoon, from 1 pm to 3 pm, volunteers will be available at Mailboxes Etc., (Av. Fco. Medina Ascensio #2180, at Plaza Caracol, next to the tire center) to assist you in the process. All you need to do is bring legal identification and the address of the last place you lived in the US. Your US address must be a street name and number (not a PO Box), city, state and zip code.

Democrats Abroad volunteers will be on hand to help you with the rest. Throughout the summer and until October 1, the Costa Banderas Democrats Abroad chapter will be available to assist voters both in requesting absentee ballots and with returning voted ballots to local election districts. A $50 peso donation is requested to help defray provided postage and handling costs.

-OR-

2. U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote can also use the website VoteFromAbroad.org. On this site, you will be asked to fill out a series of questions regarding your US and overseas addresses, party affiliation preference, etc. Based on your responses, a completed absentee ballot request form will be produced and must then be downloaded and printed. Sign the form, seal it in an envelope, and mail it to the address provided for your local Board of Elections. The correct address for your Board of Elections is provided based on the U.S. address you provided on the form. For faster turnaround, you can turn in your envelope to a Democrats Abroad volunteer on Wednesdays at Mailboxes Etc. as above.

A special mailbox has been reserved at Mailboxes Etc. to receive blank absentee ballots for voters. Democrats Abroad volunteers will contact voters when their absentee ballot has arrived to our mailbox. You will be asked to pick it up; vote your preferences for U.S. President, Congressional races, and any local election candidates or issues in your voting district. Your ballot will then be sealed, stamped, and delivered to the U.S. Consulate office in Nuevo Vallarta for transfer to the U.S. by diplomatic pouch. Once in the U.S. your voted ballot will be mailed to your local district to be counted. Using the Mailboxes Etc. service and diplomatic pouch to send ballot materials to the US will be faster than the Mexican Postal Service.

For those who are not registered to vote, even if you've never voted, you can register to vote in the fall elections. Any U.S. citizen who is eligible to vote may register in the last place of legal residence in the U.S. where you lived, even if you no longer have a residence in the U.S. Federal law allows citizens abroad and citizens in the uniformed services to register to vote only in the state that they last resided. If you never lived in the US, you may be able to vote using the address where your American parent(s) last lived. Voting in federal elections cannot be used to affect the determination of federal or state tax liability.

For more information about the Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad, click HERE. For local assistance, contact Susan Wichterman at 044-322-303-5181 or mexicoms(at)hotmail.com or Paul Crist at 322-222-4793 or editor(at)mexicodemocrats.org.

Hi Faye
I hope you and your husband stay ok, thank you for your good wishes for me
and my family. Her full Name is Maribel Sarahi Cayetano Soto, her adress is
Avillal #6 colonia Arroyo Sarco La Peñitra de Jaltemba Nay. Her parents's
names are Miguel Cayetano Lopez and Maria Elena Soto Altamirano. I am worry
because Rigth now I got bad news, Nena called me and she said, this
afternoon Sarahi take out with her fingers an very small part of her head
skin, and is possible to see the new material in her head, she said the last
few days Sarahi is angry, cry frecuently, and she doesn't eat very well, few
minutes ago I'd call to the doctor who made the surgery and he said is
dangerous because she could get big infection and he wants see her tomorrow
morning, he explain me her diferent attitude is because now her brain has
diferent presure inside, nena is trying get lent money, and tomorrow very
early in the morning my husband will drive to guadalajara with they, I don't
know how many money will be necessary for her atention, but if you have 3000
pesos it will be good if you can send it to your friend here in la Peñita
early how is possible for you. I hope she doesn't have big problems, beacuse
the last time she lost her (placa) because a big infection, please pray for
her together us, and tomorrow after I get news I will write you. (I AM SO
SORRY because I can't read my e-mails every day)

Wanted...a few more Barbie dolls

Dot, thanks for making those changes. In the next Sol issue, could we put in a short notice asking for dolls??? Dawn just has a few left over from last year and so far I only have commitment of 50 barbies this year. Help! We will arrive on 1st of December. I can give you a shout shortly after that and we can do the interview. I'd like for Dawn to be included, too. We are staying in a house in Los Ayala this year. Thanks for your help with our Barbie Angel project. Geri
So what is Jaltemba's favorite golfer up top?

THE RESULTS OF ONE OF OUR FISHING TRIPS THIS SUMMER. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET ONE BUT MY SON JOHN AND DAUGHTER TIFFANY EACH GOT 40 POUNDERS. I DID HAPPEN TO CATCH A 25 INCH RAINBOW WHICH WAS A BLAST. MY SON IN LAW BEN WAS THE GUIDE. LOVE TO ALL AND I'LL SEND MORE LATER. GARY

Ed note. click on picture to make the fish look bigger

Hi guys,

Just wanted to drop you line and say how much we enjoy reading the Jaltemba Sol. For those of us who winter down in beautiful Rincon de Guayabitos, you are our only connection with what is happening. You must put in a lot of hard work and effort to produce such a fine publication on an “almost twice weekly “basis. We especially enjoy reading Adam Caddell’s profiles on people in our second community. Keep up the good work and when we get there we would love to buy you a beer at Mateja’s or Hinde and Jaimes.

Jean and Tom from Alaska

Hola Bill and Dot, Really enjoyed this last edition of Jaltemba Sol, especially the information regarding CFE. I visited the sites suggested and found them very en-lighting, Please send this issue to my landlord Dave Jones who manages Cruz Maria RV. Thanks very much, you guys do a great job! Saludos, Irene Lee