Nearly 3 million U.S. citizens living abroad are eligible to vote each year, according to The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). FVAP provides resources needed to help overseas citizens vote via absentee ballot from anywhere in the world.
By now you've likely registered and requested a ballot with the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which ensures that your state will send your ballot to you at least 45 days before the election — September 24, 2022 — a protection not guaranteed when using other absentee voting forms. If you have not yet submitted your FPCA, there still may be time — check your state's voter registration deadline at FVAP.gov. When you use the FPCA, you can also select to have your blank ballot sent to you electronically to speed up the process.
If you have submitted your FPCA, be on the lookout for your ballot. Once your ballot arrives you should complete, sign, and send it back to your local election office right away. You can easily find your local election office address or contact information using FVAP's election office search tool.
As you prepare to vote, the Voter Assistance Guide will help you determine election deadlines for your home state. FVAP recommends that overseas citizens mail in their ballot no later than October 24. Once you send your absentee ballot, you can check its status and make sure your local election office received it by searching for your state here.
What if I've already registered and requested an absentee ballot, but it hasn't arrived?
If you requested your ballot but haven't received it, contact your election office to ask about the status of your ballot request. If you don't think you'll receive your blank ballot in time to vote, you can use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a backup ballot. You'll complete the form online, print, sign, and then send it to your local election office.
Whether it's your regular absentee ballot or the FWAB, many states allow voted ballot to be submitted via mail, fax, and even email. In fact, more than half of U.S. states have either a fax or email option, and sometimes both. This graphic shows which states offer voting options in addition to postal mail.
