Voter Registration

Voting Information

U.S. Law authorizes qualified citizens residing abroad to register and vote by absentee ballot in their state of last residence. Voting Officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information on the voting processes and will help you with complying with your home state's laws. Americans do not actually vote at Embassies and Consulates. The electoral process is administered by the states, and you vote by mailing an absentee ballot to your home state.

How to Obtain Voting Information

For official information for voting overseas, the Voting Assistance Guide is available at Embassies and Consulates. It has instructions on filling out the federal forms, gives suggestions on how to determine the state in which you should vote, and summarizes state regulations on how to register and request ballots.

For information on voting overseas visit: http://www.fvap.gov

How to Register and Get A Ballot

Acceptance or denial of voting applications is up to state officials (state voting laws differ). Depending on your state, you may register permanently, register temporarily, or apply for an absentee ballot by waiving registration. You may do any of these with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) available from your embassy/consulate.

The FPCA and your completed ballot can be mailed postage free from embassies and consulates using APO/FPO (military) mail facilities or the diplomatic pouch. However international airmail often is faster, but must be used at your own expense. You may want to consider it if you are mailing material shortly before your state's filing or election deadline. If you make a timely application for an absentee ballot for a general federal election, but do not receive it in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available from the Embassy/Consulate voting officer. It is only good for federal and not individual state offices. The FWAB can be mailed by the same methods as the FPCA, but must show an overseas return address.

Other Voting Services

The Consulates voting officers will post notices of upcoming elections, notarize ballot materials, and perform similar voting-related duties. Note: The Consulates voting officers do not provide information on candidates and issues. It is the voters responsibility to keep informed through U.S. media, relatives in the U.S., and overseas political party organizations. For further information you may contact:
Republicans Abroad, 310 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C.20003.
Democrats Abroad, Democratic National Committee, 430 South Capitol St, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003.