Voting Abroad

There are roughly 2.9 million eligible American voters living abroad. In 2020, only 7.8% of these voters cast a ballot, compared to the 66% voter turnout of domestic American voters.

Voters living abroad have the opportunity to change elections if they realize their collective power. If you are a US voter living abroad, this page is to help YOU navigate the in’s and out’s of having your voice heard!

Voting Abroad
as an Individual

Absentee voting while living abroad is a simple process that simply requires an excess of time and planning:

1. Submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA): Submit a FPCA to your local election at least 45 days before an election to confirm your eligibility to vote and receive absentee ballots.

1. 1. You can find the FPCA (as well as the information on where to send your FPCA) here. 
   2. Depending on your state, you will have to submit an FPCA for every election or once a year.

2. Receive Your Ballot: Once your FPCA has been submitted and received, your state will send you a blank ballot via mail at the address you provided on your FPCA (or in some cases, electronically) no later than 45 days before Election Day. If your FPCA is received after 45 days before Election Day, you will be sent your ballot as soon as your elections office can send it. 

3. Complete and return your ballot: We recommend doing this as soon as possible. It is ideal to have as much time as possible to ensure your ballot is received before any absentee deadlines, which depending on your state means your ballot will need to be postmarked or physically at your elections office no later than Election Day. You may return your ballot via the following methods:

• International mail
• U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Pouch
• Express courier service
• Via email or fax (in some states)

Even if your state is one of the few that does accept completed ballots over the internet, if you have time for postal delivery, that is the delivery method we encourage!

4. Have a back-up plan: If you requested an absentee ballot and didn’t receive it, you can use an Emergency Write-in Ballot 

• If you haven’t received your ballot 30 days before an election, submit a completed Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
• Your FWAB will be counted if your regular ballot doesn’t reach local election officials by your state’s deadline.
• The FWAB, as well as instructions on how to complete it, can be found here. 

5. Ensure your ballot has been processed: Every single state has resources, either digital or otherwise, to check on your ballot’s status. If you see any issues or if your ballot has not been processed and the deadlines are approaching, you can reach out to your local elections office to learn about your options.

Voting Abroad
as a Student

Voting abroad as a student is the same process as detailed above in the “voting abroad as an individual” section but there are some specific nuances and details about being a student that are important to note.

Your university may have resources available to help you in the process of voting abroad. Contact your study abroad or student life office, and if they don’t have resources, encourage them to provide them to future students.

Voting Abroad as
Military Personnel

The process of absentee voting for military personnel living overseas is unique and different from voting abroad as a non-military member. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) provide special rules and forms to assist military personnel in navigating the process of being an active voter while serving. These measures ensure that despite their circumstances, these individuals can still participate in elections and have their voices heard, ensuring fairness and representation in the democratic process. 

Military Voting Rights

• Details on voting rights and the use of the FPCA for uniformed services voters.
• Specific guidance for military members stationed abroad.

How to Register and Request an Absentee Ballot from Abroad

• Follow simple steps provided by the US Vote Foundation to register and request your ballot from overseas.
• Go here to register to vote
• Enter your data through the guided wizard process.
• Enter your information and note that you can request your ballot online so that you receive it faster, but be prepared to print and send it back.
• Download, print, and sign your form.
• Send your signed form to the local election office address provided in the instructions that come with the form.

Returning Your Absentee Ballot

Every state will accept your voted ballot by post, and some also by electronic means.

To check if your state accepts electronic ballot submission:

1. Go to US Vote’s State Voter Information directory and select your state.
2. Choose “overseas or military voter”, and then “Voter Materials Transmission Options,” and click Submit.
3. On the next screen you will see the ways your state accepts ballots and other voter information.

Residents of
Puerto Rico

Residents of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections if they reside in Puerto Rico. They also do not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress, but they do participate in presidential primary elections and have a non-voting Resident Commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives.