brett rierson sent me some more information on voting absentee for those of us living overseas:

Our focus is to ensure that overseas U.S. citizens have successfully registered to vote absentee and to provide a step-by-step guide on what to do if you do not receive your ballot by October 9, 2004.

• Voting clerks must receive your absentee ballot request before October 2, so for most of us living overseas, the last day we can send in absentee ballot requests is September 15, 2004 (unless you use DHL, FedEx, etc).
  
• Ballots are sent out 30-45 days before the election, so you should receive your ballot between September 25 and October 9, 2004.
  
• If you are uncertain whether your county clerk has received your absentee ballot application – call them: (numbers for all voting officials are at http://www.fvap.gov/links/statelinks.html, or you can easily find them by using Google). Another option is to dial toll-free to the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Global toll-free numbers at http://www.fvap.gov/services/tollfree.html
  
• Send in your completed ballot AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Depending on where you live, Fedex, UPS and DHL offer free ballot express service – call the local offices to enquire.

If you have registered for an absentee ballot but do not receive it by October 9, 2004, you should complete the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (Standard Form 186) and mail that to your county clerk (addresses available on your state's instruction sheet - same address used for your absentee ballot registration). This special ballot is only available through US Embassies and Consulates, and in some countries, through Democrats Abroad. It enables you to vote by writing in the names of the candidates you wish to vote for: President, Senator, and Representative. You can write in the candidates' names or simply your party preference in the appropriate spaces on the ballot.