With the United States midterm elections scheduled for November 3, 2026, fast approaching, it is vital for the millions of Americans living overseas to ensure they are prepared to participate. There are approximately 3.3 million US citizens currently residing abroad, with 2.2 million of those being of voting age.
To support this population, a well-established, secure, and effective process has been developed over the decades to ensure that votes from those serving in the military, working, studying, or enjoying retirement overseas are counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has outlined several key steps that Americans outside the United States should take throughout the year to maintain their eligibility and ensure they receive their ballots on time. The first and most critical step is requesting an absentee ballot, as you cannot vote without one.
Most Americans abroad accomplish this by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This tool allows local election officials to confirm your eligibility and send your ballot to your overseas address or your preferred delivery method.
When using the online FPCA tool, you will be asked to provide your voting residence address along with other personal details that your local election office needs to identify you. If you are unsure of your correct voting residence, the FVAP provides specific guidance to help you determine the correct address.
Once you have completed the form, you must print, sign, and submit it according to your state's specific requirements.
Even if you have voted from overseas in previous cycles, the FVAP strongly recommends submitting a new FPCA each calendar year to ensure your information remains current and your ballot request stays active for each election year.
If you have concerns about whether your application has been received, you can contact your local election office directly.
After your FPCA has been processed, your absentee ballot will be sent to you via your selected delivery method, which is typically email or postal mail. Once you receive it, you should complete and return it as soon as possible.
Sending your ballot early helps to avoid any unexpected delays and ensures it arrives in time to be counted.
Because ballot return deadlines vary by state, and each state has its own rules regarding postmarks and receipt dates, you should consult the FVAP website for up-to-date information for every state and territory.
It is also worth considering local postal delivery times and any potential seasonal delays that could affect international mail.
While international mail is generally reliable, delays can occur. For this reason, the FVAP recommends that voters become familiar with the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is a backup ballot available to eligible US citizens living overseas.
If you are concerned that your regular absentee ballot may not arrive or be returned in time, you can complete and submit a FWAB instead.
This can be completed online or downloaded as a printable PDF and emailed to your election office. Please remember that election officials will only count one ballot; if both your FWAB and your regular absentee ballot are received, state rules will determine which ballot is counted.
Finally, because life overseas can be busy and election deadlines can easily slip people's minds, the FVAP encourages you to remind your family, friends, and colleagues to do the same.
A quick message to other Americans abroad could help ensure they have enough time to register, request a ballot, and return it before their state's deadline.
This content was paid for by an advertiser and produced by The Local's Creative Studio.
