Embassy of the United States

Public Services

Voter Registration

If you are a U.S. citizen 18 years old or over, living overseas, and did not register to vote before departing the U.S., you may register for federal elections and request an absentee ballot by filling out a Federal Post Card Application Card (FPCA) form and submitting it to your local election official.  If you are already registered to vote and only wish to request a ballot, you should submit your FPCA as well. Please click here to see where to mail your Federal Post Card Application Form.  Please make sure to include a current email address, phone and fax number on your application.

Most states and territories begin mailing ballots 30- 45 days before an election.  If you requested an absentee ballot but have not received one close to Election Day, you can still vote by using the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

In order to be eligible to use the back-up FWAB, Uniformed Service members, their family members and overseas citizens must:

-Be absent from his/her voting residence;

-Have applied for a regular ballot early enough so the request is received by the appropriate local election official not later than the State    deadline; or the date that is 30 days before the general election; AND

-Have not received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state.

Hardcopies of the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) are available through Voting Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S. embassies/consulates. An online version is also available, which must be completed, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your local election official. If you receive a state ballot after submitting a FWAB, vote and return the state provided ballot as well.

For more information about absentee voting abroad, please visit www.fvap.gov You may also call the Embassy's consular section at 0.312.455-5555 x 7004.