R 031002Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL MILAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1673
INFO AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMCONSUL FLORENCE 
AMCONSUL NAPLES

UNCLAS MILAN 000027 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC KPAO IT
 
SUBJECT: 2008 VOTING IN MILAN AND LESSONS LEARNED 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  Voting interest in Milan's consular district reached 
unprecedented levels and reflected not only widespread U.S. citizen 
anticipation but intense Italian public interest as well.  Post 
engaged in a variety of voter assistance activities to reach over 
19,000 registered Americans, comprising outreach to American 
community groups, press availability, magazine and radio placements. 
 In addition, Post focused its October and November Speakers Bureau 
Program activities to respond to the extraordinary level of Italian 
interest.  Through the Speakers Bureau, 38 presentations were made 
at 26 secondary schools across Northern Italy reaching approximately 
3,100 high school students.  These activities were frequently the 
subject of local press and helped Post blanket Northern Italy in its 
voter information drive while meeting public diplomacy goals. 
Post's highly successful voting assistance program and public 
diplomacy efforts were capped by an all-night Election Night party 
which became the most sought-after event of the fall.  It garnered 
approximately 2,000 attendees and heavy media attention. 
 
¶2. Feedback from U.S. citizens regarding Post's voter assistance 
efforts was largely positive and citizens were very appreciative of 
Post's services.  Post noted, however, a great deal of confusion 
among voters regarding the use of voting materials and information. 
Any further simplifications in voting materials would be helpful. 
Post also would welcome earlier and more specific information 
targeted at first-time voters living overseas.  Lastly, Post noted a 
discrepancy between the user-friendly FVAP website guidance and the 
FPCA for Virginia residents.  END SUMMARY. 
 
PREPARING THE WAY FOR VOTERS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. Post experienced an intense and sustained interest in voting 
without precedent in historical memory.  Milan's preparations began 
in December 2007, with the creation of a dedicated voter email 
address with several template responses to handle anticipated high 
volume requests.  Over the course of 11 months, Post displayed 
voting materials throughout the consulate's public areas, sent 
registration/absentee ballot request cards (FPCAs) to all official 
Americans and their dependents, included voting information in Post 
welcome packages, and provided voting posters, FPCAs, and voting 
assistance guides to community groups such as Democrats Abroad and 
Americans in Milan.  (Republicans Abroad lacked a presence in 
Northern Italy.)  In addition, all official and registered Americans 
received an "All You Need to Know About Voting Absentee" 
informational email prepared by the Bureau of Consular Affairs.  In 
February 2008, Post placed a lengthy text on the primary process and 
absentee voting in Easy Milano, an English-language weekly 
publication with an audience of 14,000.  A shorter, summary text ran 
in subsequent issues.  Post's website was also linked directly to 
Embassy Rome's to direct visitors to Mission-wide centralized, 
comprehensive voting information. 
 
¶4. Besides responding to hundreds of phone inquiries, the American 
Citizen Services Unit saw a daily average of seven or more "walk-in" 
customers seeking assistance, information or to drop off completed 
absentee ballots.  The general election campaign period saw a marked 
increase in this activity.  Post encountered a number of cases where 
the citizen did not understand that voting itself does not occur 
overseas at Foreign Service posts.  The user-friendly Federal Voting 
Assistance Program (FVAP) website was helpful in cases in which a 
U.S. citizen born abroad wished to vote but had never resided in the 
U.S.  Post also prepared hand-outs on last minute voting, electronic 
transmission options, and mailing options. 
 
CONSULATE OFFICERS ROCK THE (ABSENTEE) VOTE 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  Post's officers contributed to an all-hands effort to 
disseminate voter information through public outreach.  The Consul 
General regularly incorporated voting assistance services 
information in his public activities with American community groups. 
 The public affairs officer gave a presentation to the Milan chapter 
of Democrats Abroad.  The consular section chief participated in an 
Americans in Milan event and gave an interview on the election and 
absentee voting to Radio Monte Carlo, a prominent Milan radio 
station.  The PAO, poloff, and consular chief also gave weblog 
interviews.  Other officers engaged in similar activities. 
 
¶6. In response to extraordinary Italian interest and to amplify our 
public information drive, Post's Speakers Bureau Program for October 
and November was titled "The 2008 Political Campaigns and Electoral 
Process."   The program's backbone was an off-the-shelf presentation 
prepared by Public Affairs consisting of a Powerpoint slideshow, 
prepared speech text, and free hand-outs.  With this tool, 16 
speakers from all Consulate sections gave 38 presentations at 26 
secondary schools across Northern Italy to a total of 3,100 high 
school students.  A number of the locales had never had a visit from 
a Consulate official and these visits generated considerable buzz. 
In just one example, the consular chief gave two presentations in 
Boario Terme at the end of which two local television stations 
sought interviews.  The vice mayor also stopped by because he had 
heard about the event. 
 
THE HOT EVENT TICKET (NOT JUST OBAMA VS. MCCAIN) 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7. The capstone of Post's election season efforts was an all-night 
Election Night party hosted by Post at a spacious local nightclub in 
the city center.  It quickly became one of the most sought after 
events of the fall.  The party featured a local celebrity as emcee, 
live U.S. television broadcast coverage throughout the event, 
analysis by consulate officers, and a moderated discussion with U.S. 
and Italian political experts.  Media interest was intense and, with 
over 100 accredited media outlets represented, the party's interview 
zone saw heavy activity much of the evening.  An array of sponsors, 
a "renewal corner" offering rejuvenation massages and 4 a.m. coffee 
and American breakfast by McDonald's contributed to the event's 
resounding success.  There were approximately 2,000 attendees, of 
whom over 500 were U.S. citizens.  Media coverage of the event was 
very favorable with color photos and articles in the major national 
newspapers. 
 
LESSONS LEARNED 
--------------- 
 
¶8. Overall, the voting assistance program was successful in 
accomplishing its goal.  There was, however, some confusion among 
would-be voters regarding the voting materials.  Post recommends 
action in these areas: 
 
-- Voting Materials:  Voter tools should utilize plain language in 
large type and instructions should be clearly enumerated rather than 
compacted. 
 
-- First-Time Voters:  This category of citizens, particularly those 
born abroad who have never resided in the U.S., needs earlier and 
more targeted messages on how to vote and registration options. 
 
-- FPCA/FVAP Discrepancy:  Post noted a discrepancy between the 
user-friendly FVAP website guidance and the FPCA for Virginia 
residents.  The website instruction states that Block 2.g of the 
FPCA card must indicate the name and address of employer.  The FPCA 
card, however, indicates that Block 2.g is for the state driver's 
license or I.D. number. 
 
¶9. Post would like to thank Department's Voting Action Officers, 
Jack Markey and Liz Gracon, for their consistently helpful and 
thorough guidance and advice throughout the process.  We also are 
very appreciative of the FVAP website, a USG model in its ease of 
use, clarity and simplicity. 
 
Gill