Some states require that ballots or absentee ballot requests must be returned via postal mail. Yet there is no airmail between Thailand and the USA. Two options: 1) send via DHL/FedEx/UPS (fast but costs $) or 2) send via the US Embassy (slow but FREE). Click on "read more" for info from the US Embassy website. For the Embassy option, allow 2-4 weeks for the Embassy to take it to the USA plus at least one week for the US Postal Service to deliver; total: allow 3-5 weeks! The info is below (you may have to click on "read more").
U.S. citizens may drop off their voting documents at the U.S. Embassy Bangkok in the voting box located at the American Citizen Services security entrance, or at the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai in the voting box at the American Citizen Services security entrance. U.S. citizen employees of the Department of State are responsible for the handling of your ballots.
You may drop off your ballot during business hours, Monday to Friday, except on Thai or U.S. holidays.
- Bangkok: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Chiang Mai: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Once received, items will be sent via diplomatic pouch to be delivered to your district office.
You may also mail ballots (in a larger separate envelope) via Thai Post to the address below.
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
American Citizen Services
Attn: Voting Assistance Officer
95 Wireless Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
U.S. citizens in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaengphet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Petchabun, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, and Uttaradit provinces should mail their ballots to the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai at:
U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai
American Citizen Services
Attn: Voting Assistance Officer
387 Wichayanond Rd
T. Chang Moi, A. Muang
Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand
Whether you drop off or send via Thai postal mail, please ensure that your ballot is sealed, addressed, and has a US postage stamp [or a US postage paid rectangle in the stamp location].
You can get a USA size #10 blank postage paid envelope template here. But the #10 size is a bit too big for the standard business envelopes in Thailand. There are Thailand size blank postage paid envelope templates here.
You may also mail ballots (in a larger separate envelope) via Thai Post to the address below.
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
American Citizen Services
Attn: Voting Assistance Officer
95 Wireless Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
U.S. citizens in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaengphet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Petchabun, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, and Uttaradit provinces should mail their ballots to the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai at:
U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai
American Citizen Services
Attn: Voting Assistance Officer
387 Wichayanond Rd
T. Chang Moi, A. Muang
Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand
Whether you drop off or send via Thai postal mail, please ensure that your ballot is sealed, addressed, and has a US postage stamp [or a US postage paid rectangle in the stamp location].
You can get a USA size #10 blank postage paid envelope template here. But the #10 size is a bit too big for the standard business envelopes in Thailand. There are Thailand size blank postage paid envelope templates here.
The pdfs have fillable fields, you can type or paste in the address of the local election official in your state.
Envelopes will be mailed two business days after receipt by the U.S. Embassy. Once received, please allow two to four weeks for delivery to the United States. The Embassy recommends getting your ballot to them no later than Oct 2nd. (Democrats Abroad Thailand recommends getting your ballot to the embassy or consulate ASAP!)
If it’s more convenient for you, you can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via DHL/FedEx/UPS at your own expense.
Envelopes will be mailed two business days after receipt by the U.S. Embassy. Once received, please allow two to four weeks for delivery to the United States. The Embassy recommends getting your ballot to them no later than Oct 2nd. (Democrats Abroad Thailand recommends getting your ballot to the embassy or consulate ASAP!)
If it’s more convenient for you, you can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via DHL/FedEx/UPS at your own expense.
Democrats Abroad Thailand does NOT recommend EMS or ePacket services available at Thailand post offices -- experience has shown service to be unreliable and slow.
The envelope challenge
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) and maybe official ballots sent by some states require 2 envelopes, one inside the other. Ideally, the inside envelope should be smaller. The ballot goes into smaller inside envelope and is marked "Ballot Inside" or such as required by your state. That goes into the larger, outside envelope, which is addressed to the local election official in your state. You would use the postage paid envelope template at the link above for the larger, outside envelope.
In the US, you could use a #10 envelope for the larger outside envelope and a #9 for the smaller inside envelope. The Thai sizes are 9/125 108 x 235 for the larger outside envelope and 9/100 102 x 219 for the smaller inside envelope. The larger size 9/125 108 x 235 is widely available. The smaller size is not.
Since you will paste a printed template over outer envelope, and you can paste something over the smaller inside envelope, you can scrounge used envelopes for voting!
If you send your ballot to the embassy or consulate via Thailand Post, you would need a third envelope, larger still. The 7 x 10 size is the best option we have found.
If you cannot find a 9/100 102 x 219 envelope, the 6½/125 is more common and will work. It is more narrow, so the ballot will needed to be folded more. If you can get the 6½/125, don't buy the 7/125, it is too tall to fit inside the 9/125. Maybe cut 1/4" off the bottom and one side of the #10 size, and close the cut edges with tape.
So in addition to a printer, paper and scissors, the supplies you need are:
- glue stick
- 9/125 108 x 235 envelope
- 9/100 102 x 219 envelope (second choice: 6½/125, third choice cut 9/125 108 x 235 envelope)
- 7 x 10 envelope (needed if you send ballot to the embassy or consulate via Thailand Post)
There will be detailed instructions on how your ballot must be prepared. Be careful to follow the instructions EXACTLY! This is a test! If you miss even just one of the instruction items, your ballot will be invalid and not counted!