Key info about your state's 2026 U.S. elections:
- Request Your 2026 Ballots HERE. (FYI: This also updates your registration.)
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Ballot Receipt: If you requested ballot delivery by email, it should arrive on or about 45 days before each of your state's 2026 primary and other elections.
- Didn't receive your ballot as expected? Contact your Local Election office immediately HERE. (Then scroll down toward bottom of the page for contact info.)
- Return Your Ballot within 3 days of receipt. Strongly recommended for 2026 elections.
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Ballot Return information for your local Dems Abroad chapter:
Need assistance for areas in Mexico but outside these chapters above? EMAIL us here.
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Ballot RETURN by Postal Mail:
Strongly Recommended*: Send it back by Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
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Ballot RETURN by E-Mail, Fax or Online:
Recommended*: Return by Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
Yes, you CAN return in October, but each day you wait is riskier. There could be slow U.S. Mail and other complications—even if you're returning your ballot by E-Mail, Fax or Online.
* Recommendations based on many years of experience in Mexico.
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Ballot return requirements vary by state
- Check your state’s exact ballot return requirements here.
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Here is a quick recap—
...MUST Return by MAIL: AR, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, PA, OH, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WI, WY..
...FAX ALLOWED: AK, CA, FL, LA, OK.
...EMAIL ALLOWED: AL, AZ, CO, DE, DC, HI, IN, KS, ME, MA, MS, MT, NC, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OR, RI, SC, UT, WA, WV.
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Mail Only? If you vote from states like Georgia, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia—you must return your ballot only by mail.
Send it back by Sept. 26, 2026. (Extra time required since you're sending it from Mexico!) - Email or Fax? If your state allows email or fax returns, definitely use these options instead of mail. Information on fax submission here.
> TIP: New Jersey Special Requirement—New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but also requires that the ballot be sent by postal mail.
> TIP: New York and Texas Special Requirements—Here are instructions on
—NY: How to fold the New York State 2024 General Election ballot.
—TX: How to assemble Texas Ballot Materials. See example of the TX Carrier Envelope below.
1. How to return your ballot by POSTAL MAIL
Private Carrier: If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the best options are:
- Take your ballot to a mail-forwarding service or to an expressmail courier service (DHL, FedEx, etc.). NOTE: International courier services deliver to street addresses only. You can find an election office's street address by searching the internet.
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Important: Ask for a postmark or date stamp on the outer envelope when mailing using any service, except the diplomatic pouch. TX requires date and time.
The postmark date is important to ensure your ballot is counted!
> TIP: Check your state’s deadline for ballot return and count backwards to ensure timely delivery.
> TIP: Even with express mail courier services, ballots still take several days to get to the United States.
2. How to return your ballot by Embassy Mail Pouch.
Dropping off in-person - recommended: Voters in Mexico City can drop their ballots off in postage paid envelopes or with the correct U.S. postage at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
- Hours for accepting ballots: 9 am–2 pm Monday–Friday (the Mexico City Embassy is closed for U.S. Federal and Mexican holidays).
- All visitors to the Embassy are subject to security screening, and you will not be permitted to bring electronic devices, including cell phones, inside the facility.
- Bring completed, sealed, and stamped voting materials to our Embassy’s main entrance on Reforma Avenue.
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 305
Col. Cuauhtémoc, 06500
Click here for a printable postage paid envelope.
If you are not able to print the envelope, you can use a blank envelope with the following messages on the front:
- OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOTING MATERIAL – FIRST CLASS MAIL
- U.S. Postage Paid 39 USC 3406
No appointment is needed, and the ballot box should be located at the entrance.
Mailing to the Embassy:
To mail election-related materials to the Embassy you will need 2 envelopes. It is recommended using a private carrier, such as DHL.
- Address Envelope #1 to the U.S. Embassy at the mailing address below - write on the envelope Ballot Enclosed.
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Address Envelope #2 to your local state election office and enclose your ballot inside.
The second (internal) envelope needs to be U.S. postage-paid or have sufficient U.S. postage affixed to be delivered to your local election office from the U.S. sorting facility in Texas where it will be mailed. - Seal the second envelope, place it inside the first envelope, and mail the package to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It can take up to 4 weeks for election-related materials to reach their final destination in the U.S.
U.S. Embassy Mexico City
American Citizen Services
Room 101 Voting Assistance Officer
Presa Angostura 225,
Col. Irrigación,
Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo
Ciudad de México, Mexico, C.P. 11500
3. Delivering ballots to local CONSULATES in person.
You might be able to drop ballots off at the following locations.
Double-check with these locations to see if in-person ballot drop-off is available—and what the hours are.
U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez
U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara
U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo
U.S. Consulate General Matamoros
U.S. Consulate General Merida
U.S. Consulate General Monterrey
U.S. Consulate General Nogales
U.S. Consulate General Nuevo Laredo
U.S. Consulate General Tijuana
Please be aware that using the embassy or consulate mail pouch does not mean your ballot will arrive faster.
It can take up to 5 weeks for the mail to reach its final destination.
Therefore, we do NOT recommend using this method
AFTER October 1.
If you have any questions about using the embassy mail pouch, contact the U.S. Embassy at [email protected].
To reference this information on the embassy website check here: https://mx.usembassy.gov/voting/
> IMPORTANT TIP:
When filling out your ballot and packaging your ballot, remember to review the instructions carefully.
Don’t let human error spoil your ballot!
> Information on how to return based on your local chapter:
Costa Banderas (includes Puerto Vallarta)
