United States citizens residing in Florence have a few last-minute chances to register to vote and request their absentee ballots for the upcoming election on November 8.
English language bookshop The Paperback Exchange (via delle Oche 4r, near piazza Duomo) is currently hosting a nonpartisan electronic voter registration drive. Staff will be on hand between 3 and 5pm daily from Tuesday, October 4 to Thursday, October 6, assisting voters with requesting their absentee ballots. Depending on the voter’s home state, request forms will then be faxed or emailed in-store (usually to the local circuit clerk’s office). A small fee will be charged for international faxing costs. The process takes about 15 minutes.
Voters will need to present their Social Security or driver’s license number, their complete address in the United States and their Italy address where they receive mail.
After this final registration week, the nonpartisan group VotefromAbroad.org will host a debate watch party from 6.30 to 9.30pm on Monday, October 10 (Slowly Café, via Porta Rossa 63r). Attendees will watch the second presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the day after its live airing from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Moderated by Martha Raddatz, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent and Co-Anchor of ABC’s “This Week,” and Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor, this debate will feature questions posed directly by citizens in its first half. Partygoers are invited to stay at Slowly for discussion after the debate, and students will be offered a discount on cocktails. Advance booking is not required, but appreciated: write to votefromabroadflorence@gmail.com.
