Absentee Voting
Temporarily Overseas During Election
You do not need to live overseas to receive a ballot there. If you are temporarily traveling out of the U.S. during an election, you can vote as an overseas voter. You can apply using the Register to Vote / Absentee Ballot form on our website. Where ...
What is my address for voting purposes?
U.S. citizens living outside of the U.S. are only permitted to register and vote in the state and county where they last established residence (domicile) in the U.S. before moving outside of the country. This is your "voting residence address," and ...
Will my absentee ballot vote be counted?
Yes, but when it will be counted varies from state to state. Most states count absentee ballots on Election Day, though some states count up to 10 days, or even longer, after the election. All ballots must be counted in order for an election to be ...
How can I be sure my absentee ballot has been received and counted? Track my absentee ballot.
Many states have tools available for voters to check the status of their ballot. To see if your state does, you can check out our State Ballot Tracking Chart. If your state offers ballot tracking you'll see an X next to it, which we've hyperlinked to ...
Where do I send my absentee ballot?
Election materials should always be returned to your local election office, not your polling place or a third party. Your ballot should come with a pre-addressed envelope. If it does not, you will need to contact your local election office. ...
What if I lose my absentee ballot or envelope?
If you lose your absentee ballot or envelope you will need to contact your local election office. Do not assume that a standard envelope will be treated the same as the official envelope. Go to the Election Official Directory. Choose your State and ...
What if I can't sign and fill out my ballot myself?
If you are unable to complete your ballot on your own, it is permissible to get assistance. There will be a space on the form to indicate the name of the person who assisted you to sign and verify their role. This may be on the form or on the ...
What if the election is soon and I still have not received my absentee ballot?
Many states have tools available for voters to check the status of their ballot. To see if your state does, you can check out our State Ballot Tracking Chart. If your state offers ballot tracking you'll see an X next to it, which we've hyperlinked to ...
By what date do I have to return my absentee ballot?
You can find out the date by which you have to return your ballot in the State Voting Requirements. You will be able to find the deadlines for all your state's election materials in this directory. Please note, if you are using regular mail, allow ...
How do I return my absentee ballot request form?
You will need to send the request form to your local board of elections directly. All states accept mailed ballot requests and most will accept electronic requests, such as email or by fax. Go to the State Voting Requirements and select your state. ...
How do I get a vote-by-mail absentee ballot?
You can generate an absentee ballot request on our website. Go to Register to Vote / Absentee Ballot. Choose the Type of Voting Form that applies to you and complete the process by filling out the information in each step. At the end, you must ...
Do I need a reason to vote by absentee ballot?
You might. A small number of states still require a reason (excuse). In these states, you will have to affirm that you cannot vote in person for physical reasons such as age, disability or being physically absent from your state that day. You can ...