April 07, 2022

Important Primary Voting Information for PA, OH, GA, and NC


This month, all eyes are on Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina as we gear up for May primaries. If you have not registered and requested your absentee ballot, go to VoteFromAbroad.org today.

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Ballots sent out: Saturday, April 2** (Check your email/Spam folder) 
  • Registration Deadline: Wednesday, May 2
  • Primary Day: Tuesday, May 17 (Ballot must be postmarked by this date) 
  • Ballot Return Deadline: Tuesday, May 24

** Potential delay to overseas ballots due to extended candidate filing deadlines!

  • KEYSTONE ACCOUNT: To access voter information such as voter registration and ballot status, voters must have a Keystone account and login to the Keystone system first, then go to specific info pages. To setup or log in to your Keystone account, click here and then go to the voter information website.
  • INTENT TO RETURN: Citizens from PA who are living overseas must indicate on the form whether or not they “intend to return” to Pennsylvania. 
    • You will only be sent a FULL ballot (including State and Local elections) if you select that you “Intend to return” - this can be at any point in the future. 
    • If your “Return is uncertain,” then your ballot will only include Federal races. 
  • BALLOT RETURN: You can request to have your ballot sent to you via email to avoid postal delays. This is highly recommended. It will arrive 45 days before the election, so send your request in early!
    • You must RETURN your ballot by POSTAL MAIL. It must be postmarked by election day and arrive no later than the seventh day after the election.
  • MEET THE CANDIDATES! Watch the recording of our recent event with U.S. Senate candidates from Pennsylvania here.

OHIO

**The courts have rejected the last set of redistricting maps, which means ballots cannot be sent out as scheduled. 

UPDATE (4/1): The Ohio Secretary of State will be directing Boards of Elections to begin delivering UOCAVA ballots beginning Tuesday, April 5, with an express return label. Expect to see all races except the state House and Senate seats and State Central Committee races on the ballots. That means there will be a second primary for those seats. Date to be confirmed later, but possibly August 2.

Deadlines for Ohio Primary

  • If you are already registered to vote, the deadline to request your ballot is April 30 at 12:00 p.m. Ohio time.
  • If you are not yet registered to vote, the deadline to register and request your ballot was April 4.
  • Please request that your ballot be delivered to you by email. 
  • Ballots must be returned by mail:
    • Postmarked by May 2 (one day before the election)
    • Received by May 13

Voting in Ohio from Abroad

  • The Ohio Primary is set for: May 3**
    • To vote in Ohio’s Democratic Primary, you must specify “Democrat” as your political party.
  • Ballots will be sent out starting Tuesday, April 5**
  • ALL overseas voters get the FULL ballot with Federal, State, and Local elections.

What races will be on the primary ballot?

  • Ohioans will be voting for Senate, Congressional Representative, all Statewide offices such as Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Judges, State Representatives and local offices. 
  • MEET THE CANDIDATES! Watch the recording of our recent event with Democratic candidates from Ohio here.

GEORGIA

Timeline of Georgia Primary Elections in 2022

  • Ballots sent out: April 5-9 (check your email/Spam folder)
  • Registration Deadline: Monday, April 25
  • Ballot Request Deadline: Friday, May 13 
  • Election Day: Tuesday, May 24
  • Ballot Return Deadline: 
    • Mailed and postmarked by Tuesday, May 24
    • Received by May 27

BALLOT REQUEST: Ballots must be requested EVERY calendar year using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which doubles as your voter registration if you aren’t already registered.

  • Fill out your FPCA at VoteFromAbroad.org – to avoid postal delays, check to have it sent by email.
  • Please DO NOT use the Georgia absentee voter registration. Your voting rights are protected by Federal law, but only if you fill out the FPCA! (If you are asked for a photo ID, you’ve likely used the incorrect form – reach out if you need help.)
  • EMAIL the FPCA to your Local Election Office to get your ballot without delay!
  • Use the Georgia My Voter Page to check and see if your FPCA was received and ballot sent. Primary ballots will be sent starting May 5-9.

INTENT TO RETURN: Citizens from Georgia who are living overseas must indicate on the FPCA form whether or not they “intend to return” to Georgia. 

  • You will only be sent a FULL ballot (including State and Local elections) if you select that you “Intend to return” – this can be at any point in the future. 
  • If your “Return is uncertain,” then your ballot will only include Federal races. 
  • Children of U.S. citizens who have never resided in the U.S. may use their U.S. citizen parent’s last U.S. address as their voting address. If their parent or legal guardian was last registered in Georgia, they are also eligible to vote in Georgia. They do not need a state ID or social security number to register. This also applies to anyone turning 18 before November 8, 2022.

What races will be on the primary ballot?

  • Georgians will be voting for Senate; Congressional Representatives; all Statewide offices such as Governor, Secretary of State, Judges, and State Representatives; and local offices. 
  • MEET THE CANDIDATES! Join Georgians Abroad on April 13 at 7:00 p.m. CET to hear from Democratic candidates for Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. RSVP to attend.

NORTH CAROLINA

  • The deadline to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot is the day before Election Day, May 17, at 5:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. CET. You can easily fill out and submit the FPCA on the Access Military/Overseas Voter Services page.
  • Any FPCA received by 5:00 p.m. ET on the day before Election Day shall be considered a voter registration application and an absentee request and will be promptly processed and the ballot issued to any qualified voter.
  • The UOCAVA ballot return portal will be available until 7:30 p.m. ET on Election Day, for UOCAVA voters who have requested a ballot to submit online.
  • MEET THE CANDIDATES! Join North Carolinians Abroad on April 27 at 7:00 p.m. CET to hear from Democratic candidates for the state's Supreme Court. RSVP to attend.

If you are from, vote in, or have ties to one of these crucial battleground states, please consider getting involved with the Global State Teams. In addition to Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, we have groups working to get out the vote in Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin. Join us! Send an email to [email protected] to get started.