All U.S. citizens are eligible to vote absentee while living or traveling abroad and a new organization is making that process much better. Here's how.
This guide will walk you through the simple process and direct you to a new form that makes requesting your ballot easier than ever.
Americans can vote from abroad
The bedrock of American democracy is the right of every citizen to cast their vote. And that right doesn't end at the U.S. border. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986, U.S. citizens living outside the country are guaranteed the right to vote by absentee ballot in federal elections, and many states also allow these voters to participate in state and local elections.
All told, the federal government estimates that there are roughly 2.9 million non-military Americans this applies to. But unfortunately, voting rates among voters abroad have lagged behind their domestic counterparts. In the 2020 election, the federal government estimated that fewer than 8% of U.S. voters abroad successfully voted. But it's not for lack of trying! The same survey reports that nearly half of these citizens wanted to vote, but faced some obstacles.
How to vote in the U.S. 2024 elections while abroad
That's where the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Turnout Project comes in. This new project was founded specifically to make it easier for Americans abroad to navigate the process:
- Request
Visit USVotersAbroad.org to use their easy tool that helps you fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The form only takes 5-7 minutes to complete, and when you're finished, the tool will help you email the application to the appropriate local election official. Do this as soon as possible to avoid any processing time delays.
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Receive
Ballots for the upcoming November 5, 2024 elections will start being sent on September 20th. All voters abroad can elect to receive their blank ballots electronically. This is a great way to minimize international mail time.
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Return
You can always print your ballot and mail it back or deliver it to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Depending on the state you are voting in, you may also be able to return it electronically. However you vote, make sure to do it early so your ballot gets back in time. (But it's never too late; reach out to your local election official if you run into any problems or are worried about timing).
That's it! Get started right away at USVotersAbroad.org, and reach out to the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad Turnout Project's support team if you have any questions along the way.
