🇺🇸 Make sure you’re registered and ready to vote from abroad in 2026.
Protect your vote: submitting your FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) every year registers you as a voter living abroad, requests all eligible ballots, helps guard against voter roll purges. Exercise your rights - start at VotefromAbroad.org.
Returning your Ballot From China
Ballot return methods — by email/online, fax or postal mail — vary by state. Find your state's ballot return methods here.
📌 Always vote and return your ballot as soon as possible, by the fastest method allowed for your state! 📌
Electronic Ballot Return
If your state allows you to email, online upload, or fax your ballot, please use one of these methods and avoid postal mail delays and costs.
If you vote in Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, or Oklahoma, you can return a ballot by fax or an email to fax service (but not by email).
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Not sure how? Find guidance on fax programs and how to’s here: information on how to return a ballot by fax.
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Need help scanning your ballot? Watch this video on how to scan using your smartphone.
Postal Mail Ballot Return
Some states require that ballots be returned by postal mail — see directions that come with your ballot on how to return it, or look up the rules for your state here. Many states have extended deadlines for postal mail ballot return but we urge you to plan to have your ballot back by election day if at all possible. Always vote and return your ballot right away, allowing enough time for your ballot to arrive. See below for details on three methods of returning a ballot by postal mail.
Vote a Backup Ballot!
All voters abroad are urged to vote their ballot promptly and to return it right away. If your state requires that you return a ballot by postal mail, consider also voting a Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB). The Backup Ballot is available only to overseas voters — think of it as insurance for your vote! If both ballots arrive, only one will be counted. For more guidance on the Backup Ballot, go here.
China International Post
(IF NEEDED: Check with your post office on average international mail delivery times and conditions — some countries have restricted mail service to the U.S.) If you would like to send your ballot or other election materials back to the U.S. by China Post, please use XX stamp which costs YY amount for up to XX g in weight.
We recommend getting a stamped postmark establishing the date of mailing.
U.S. Embassy / Consulate Diplomatic Mail (- IF YOUR LOCAL OFFICES ALLOW IT) Some U.S. Embassy & Consulates allow U.S. citizens abroad to access diplomatic mail for the return of U.S. election materials. [ Provide info on how to contact American Citizen Services for your country. ] Diplomatic mail is part of the U.S. Postal Service — therefore, it is necessary to use either sufficient U.S. postage (U.S. stamps), OR to use an official election mail “US postage-paid” envelope. See: I Need to Return my FPCA or Ballot by Mail, What Are My Options?
Consulates usually recommend allowing 30 days for your election mail to arrive in the US.. Actual delivery times will vary. Don’t forget to request a consular postmark.
International Express Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
We recommend arranging courier delivery so your ballot is received by Election Day. All states that require postal mail return have confirmed they will accept ballots sent with such couriers.
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Do not require a signature upon delivery as this may prevent it from being delivered.
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Couriers will not deliver mail to P.O. Boxes — check with your election officials to get a deliverable address for courier mail.
[ SF Express has a miniprogram in WeChat and can be translated within it to be able to send your ballot back to the US ]
Confirm Your Ballot is Accepted
After you have returned your ballot, confirm with your election officials that it was received and will be counted. Go to VotefromAbroad.org/states, select your state, and scroll down to “Track My Ballot.” You can also lookup your local election official contact info to directly follow up with them.
Celebrate! Get Your I Voted Sticker!
Let your friends and family know you voted from abroad. You can get a digital “I Voted” sticker from FVAP here.
Need Help?
Visit VotefromAbroad.org, check out the VoteFromAbroad FAQ, or use the online chat bubble. Trained voter assistance is available for live, online voter help (via Zoom) - see here. Or email us at: [email protected].