EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION
TEL: 880-2-5566-2000
FAX: 880-2-9881677, 9885688
E-MAIL: DhakaPA@state.gov
WEBSITE: https://bd.usembassy.gov/
DHAKA, OCTOBER 31, 2016 – The U.S. Embassy is happy to provide the following information from the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press Centers (FPC):
There are no official credentials to cover the 2016 elections, either local or presidential. Each of the 50 states has their own regulations regarding elections and electoral procedures. For information on how to access polling places or on how local elections are administered, please contact the local election officials. Contact information can be found here: https://www.usa.gov/election-office. The state and local Democratic and Republican parties can also be a useful resource.
Media traveling from overseas to cover the U.S. elections must obtain an I-type visa. Information media representative (“I”) visas are for representatives of the foreign media, including members of the press, radio, film, and print industries, and aliens whose activities are essential to the foreign information media function (e.g., reporters, media film crews, video editors, and persons in similar occupations). If an accredited foreign media representative attempts to enter the U.S. without the proper “I” visa, he or she may be refused admission at the port of entry.
Media are generally allowed to observe/film/photograph at a polling station as long as they remain a certain distance – often 40 feet – from the entrance. Media are also free to interview voters outside posted limits after they have finished voting. Please follow instructions from local polling administrators to avoid any misunderstandings.
Presidential candidate events are organized and announced directly by the campaigns themselves. Media should register, and/or apply directly to the campaigns in order to attend candidate events. Their contact information is listed below:
Hillary Clinton
@HillaryClinton 646-854-1432 www.hillaryclinton.com/
Hillary For America: press@hillaryclinton.com
Donald Trump
@realDonaldTrump 646-736-1779 www.donaldjtrump.com/
Contact form: www.donaldjtrump.com/contact/
www.donaldjtrump.com/schedule/media-request/
Johnson Weld Campaign
@GovGaryJohnson 801-303-7932 www.johnsonweld.com/
Info@JohnsonWeld.com Media@JohnsonWeld.com
Jill Stein
@DrJillStein 323-447-2702 www.Jill2016.com
Meleiza Figueroa, Press Director, melfig@jill2016.com,
The campaigns are expected to hold Election Night events in New York City, but these are not likely to be announced before the last week of October. Media should sign up for email announcements from the campaigns and reply Election Night event announcement upon receipt. The campaigns will then notify media if they were selected to participate, and provide further instructions to media that were selected.
Other non-campaign-related activities will likely be taking place around New York City on Election Night, including public locations such as Times Square. Media should expect to be waiting outside for parts of the evening and plan accordingly as average temperatures in New York City in November range from 5-12 degrees Celsius.
Media looking for on-line, non-partisan resources of election-related information may consult: RealClearPolitics, 538, 270 to Win, Ballotpedia, VoteUSA, the Center for Election Science, FactCheck, and Crowdpac.
Media who wish to receive email updates of FPC events and activities in Washington or New York should email a request with your name, media affiliation, and e-mail address to NYFPC@state.gov to be added to its Elections mailing list.
The FPCs are planning a series of live briefings hosted by both the Washington and New York Foreign Press Centers on Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8. Events will be streamed live on http://www.fpc.state.gov. The exact schedule of briefings is still to be announced, but will be posted on the FPC website above and disseminated on our email mailing list for the 2016 elections.
To register for temporary FPC media credentials, please go to: http://fpc.state.gov/c4719.htm. The Foreign Press Center temporary credential will identify you as a member of the media but does not guarantee access to campaign related events. All requested documentation is required.
Please check out the FPCs’ social media pages on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/USDoS.FPC, and on Twitter, @ForeignPressCtr.
