Message for US Citizens (August 30, 2010)

August 30, 2010

To:          All American Citizens

From:      Consular Section

Subject:   Message for US Citizens – August 30, 2010

The American community in Lebanon will be hosting its final bi-partisan voting event on Saturday, September 4th from 1100 – 1300 at the Riviera Hotel in Beirut. 

As a US citizen, your vote is an important tool to voice your opinion about the future direction of the country.  However, you must be registered in order to cast that vote.

This event will be a great way to get information on how to register and vote while overseas. Trained volunteers will be available at the event to assist with completing registration applications and ballot request forms for the upcoming elections.  The Federal Voting Assistance Program continues to recommend that all overseas voting citizens register to vote and requests ballots prior to each federal election as this ensures that your voting registration is valid and your information remains up to date.
 
There is no cost for registration. 
 
There are three items to bring in order to complete the FPCA application:

1. Valid US passport
   
2. Functioning mailing address in Lebanon
3. Last address in the U.S. with city/zip code (and county, if possible).  Ideally, this will be where you last registered/voted in the U.S.   If you've not voted before, you may still register. 

Voting registration forms and other information can also be found on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at http://www.fvap.gov or at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. 

 If you would like to volunteer with this event, or would like more information, please send an email to VoteBeirut@state.gov.

Americans living or traveling in Lebanon are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

For the latest security information, Americans should regularly monitor the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, including the Travel Warning for Lebanon, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Lebanon.  Public access hours for American citizens are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. American citizens may e-mail BeirutACS@state.gov if they have questions about services provided by the section; they may also call 04 543 600 and ask for the American Citizen Services Section Mondays through Fridays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  Any American citizen in need of emergency services outside of these hours may contact the Embassy by telephone at any time.  The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209. Information is available on the Embassy’s website at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov.  The Arabic language website is http://arabic.lebanon.usembassy.gov/.