Key poll lessons as Americans vote

American citizens living in Kenya are gearing up to vote for their preferred presidential candidate in what could offer vital lessons as the country prepares for the first ever elections where Kenyans staying abroad will cast their ballot.

Though the US elections will take place on November 6, Americans in various parts of the world have already received their ballot papers in readiness for the vote.

Nation Media Group Design Editor Kathleen Bogan is one such “absentee” voter, who will cast her ballot from Kenya.

Ms Bogan, from the State of Colorado, has received her electronic and paper ballot and will shortly vote and send it back home before the November voting day.

Unlike in Kenya where voters will have six ballot papers — for the President, Senator, Governor, Member of Parliament, Women and County assembly Representatives — in the US, Coloradans will only cast one ballot, whose paper version is almost the size of a newspaper page.

The paper allows her to vote for many offices. One section has the names of all the 16 presidential candidates. “It also has the option of writing my own choice if my ideal presidential candidate is not listed,” she says. 

The ballot also has sections for choosing the US Representative, State Board of Education, Regent of the University of Colorado, State Senator and State Representative from her district.

Preparation for the American diaspora vote started early this year when the US embassy sent out e-mails reminding its citizens in Kenya to vote and giving them advice on how to carry out the exercise.

In the case of the paper ballot, the embassy asked them to fill it out and drop it at their premises in Gigiri. No postage is necessary as the embassy will mail it back.

“It is also okay for a friend to drop it. We don’t have to go in person,” says Ms Bogan adding;

“In some states, you can vote electronically, but you still have to send in the paper ballot as well so that the elections officials have a signed copy.”

And in the case of the electronic vote, she says, one can send it via e-mail. Both e-mail and paper ballots can be tracked online to ensure the electoral body receives it.

Recently, Kenyans in the diaspora piled pressure on the electoral commission to assure them that they will vote for their next President. (READ: Kenyans in US give polls boss hard time)