Voting Overseas
Absentee Voting
U.S. citizens overseas are guaranteed the right to vote in federal elections in the United States. Please note that you cannot simply log on to a website and vote at the last minute. Almost all states require voters to physically send in registration documents, receive paper ballots by return post, and mail in their completed ballots. Adequate preparation is the key.
You cannot register to vote or vote at the U.S. Embassy. However, we do supply the forms necessary to request an absentee ballot from your last state of residence. Please visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov. This site has detailed information about absentee voting, including how to download, fill in and send the absentee ballot request form to the appropriate address in your state. For quick answers, consult the FVAP’s Voting FAQ.
· You complete the ballot, notarize it at the U.S. Embassy if required, and mail it back to your state of residence. You can send the FPCA to the U.S. for free through the U.S. Embassy if the envelope indicates that postage has been pre-paid. Mailing time to the U.S. varies, subject to factors in the postal system beyond our control. You can also mail it directly to the U.S. using the local postage system by placing the appropriate airmail stamp on it.
Which State?
The issue of voting residence is complex. Even in states where laws clearly define criteria for determining a person's voting residence, the final determination is generally up to each local election official. The UOCAVA allows citizens outside the United States (not affiliated with the Uniformed Services) to vote in the state or territory where they last resided immediately prior to departing the United States, even if many years have elapsed, and the voter maintains no residence in the state or territory, and the intent to return to that state or territory may not be certain. If a citizen is uncertain about his or her current legal voting residence, the citizen should examine his or her connections or ties to the state or territory in question and consult with legal counsel.
The following general guidelines are for citizens residing outside the United States, who are not active duty military or their family members, in determining their state of legal residence for voting purposes.
What about Taxes?
Exercising your right to vote in elections for Federal offices only does not affect the determination of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law. Voting in an election for Federal office only may not be used as the sole basis to determine residency for the purposes of imposing state and local taxes.
Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
Overseas voters may be eligible to use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to vote for federal offices (President/Vice President, Senator, and Representative).
The FWAB is to be used to assist those voters who would be disenfranchised through no fault of their own, and is not designed as a replacement for the regular state ballot. It is valid only when the state ballot has been requested. The FWAB is available at the U.S. Embassy.