There are a not many reasons anyone would want to go to an American Embassy…anywhere. They never make the top ten list of things to do or see in any country. Granted, it is nice to know that wherever you may travel an Embassy is close in time of need, you just hope there never is a need. Today it was our destination point. We went to the American Embassy in Chiang Mai, Thailand and we went to vote.
Voting was one of those details we had wanted to take care of before we left but due to the timing it was impossible to get an absentee ballot before September 25th. We went down to the elections office and applied to have our ballots emailed to us. Once it was ready and emailed to us, we could print it up, complete it, sign an affidavit that we were who we said we were and then mail it back to the USA. Not terribly difficult really but considering we were on the move this took a few attempts.
Because Tom is retired from the military we are able to use the APO (Army Post Office) at the Embassy. We completed all the necessary paperwork and walked the 1.8 km to the Embassy. There are numerous guards and security checks before you can enter the inner sanctum. Here we received an official envelope that is dated and sealed and then we placed it in the voter ballot box just like at home. The only thing missing was our
'I Voted' stickers.
Photos are prohibited anywhere near the Embassy for security purposes but I was told we could get a picture from outside and across the street. And while we have no photographic memory of todays happenings, we will never forget the time we voted in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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