On Tuesday morning, over 100 million people watched the first United States Presidential debate worldwide. For the next seven weeks, the coverage of this election will be hard to ignore, with each candidate’s international policies being scrutinised with a fine tooth comb. This election holds many firsts for the country. Will America see the first female President; will it see the first ‘non-politician’ businessman assume the top political role in the US? For the millions of Americans that live internationally and reside in other countries as guests, the hope is that the winning Presidential candidate will be respectful of international diplomacy and work to improve and maintain relations. It is estimated that about 4,000 Americans currently live in Macau and several organisations in town are urging them to register for absentee voting. The process is very simple and absentee ballots are sent by email, if requested, within a few days. Technology has made it convenient for those living abroad to vote, simply by visiting FVAP.org and completing a ballot request for the state in which the voter is registered. The only caveat to electronic voting is that you are not guaranteed privacy but a voter can still use traditional mail to keep their vote secret. The average time for mail to go from Macau to America ranges from two to three weeks so it is important to factor this time into the process. As an American living in Macau, I urge all American citizens to participate in the upcoming general election. While I generally offer an opinion in this weekly column, I will not make a personal suggestion on voting preference, but I will plea that all Americans living abroad do choose to vote. Americans living in Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China have a unique opportunity to experience how the United States is viewed abroad and view Chinese-American relations firsthand. It is our duty to participate in the American democratic process and we only have the opportunity to vote for President every four years. Most states require that absentee ballot requests be made by early October. Now is the time to apply for a ballot, so truly become a part of voting history and take the opportunity to have your voice heard from abroad. The best way to share an opinion on the great debates of the coming weeks will be to vote, and I look forward to seeing the American vote from Macau in great numbers.
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