Georgia Voting Guide
- Download the guide HERE
Voting in Georgia from Abroad
Dear U.S. Citizen Abroad or Military Voter,
Your vote and your voice matter in ALL Georgia elections, especially in the upcoming elections. Americans residing abroad have the right to vote. Please follow the tips below to make the process go smoothly and remember, we’re here to help if you need it!
★ 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 www.VoteFromAbroad.org - to avoid postal delays, select to have your ballot sent by email.
-
EMAIL the FPCA to your Local Election Office to get your ballot without delay! Check the deadlines for registration and ballot request HERE.
-
Use the Georgia My Voter Page to check and see if your FPCA was received and ballot sent. Ballots will be sent starting 45 days prior to each election.
-
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!
★ INTENT TO RETURN: Citizens from Georgia who are living overseas must indicate on the 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 include Federal races only.
-
Children of US citizens who have never resided in the US may use their US citizen parent’s last US 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 (US Passport is sufficient). This also applies to anyone turning 18 before the election.
★ BALLOT RETURN: You must RETURN your ballot by POSTAL MAIL. You can request to have your ballot sent to you electronically to avoid postal delays. This is highly recommended, but make sure you have the ability to print out your ballot.
Check our Ballot Access and Return Instructions for more detailed information.
-
Your ballot must be postmarked by election day and arrive at your election office no later than the third day after the election.
-
Late return is the #1 reason ballots are rejected, so mail yours back ASAP!
-
Be sure to complete and return the Oath of Elector or your ballot will be rejected.
You can use the diplomatic pouch (though return times vary) or a private courier service (such as UPS or DHL) to send back your ballot. Family members can share a courier envelope if they have the same GA voting address.
★ BACKUP BALLOT: If you do not receive your ballot, please check your spam folder and secondary folders. If it has not arrived, contact your Local Election Office. If you're concerned you won't get your ballot in time to return it by the deadline, you may vote using a backup ballot - the Federal Write In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
-
Fill out the Backup Ballot here - you can look up a Sample Ballot to find candidates, etc.
★ Track Your Ballot: It is imperative you track your ballot to ensure it has arrived and is counted. Check the Georgia My Voter Page and contact your Election Office right away if your ballot was rejected so that you can cure your ballot if possible.
★ PASS IT ON: Do you know any other Georgians or Americans from other states living abroad? Let them know they can vote and encourage them to join Democrats Abroad at www.democratsabroad.org/join!
★ If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Voter Assistance team at [email protected].
Democratically yours,
The Georgians Abroad Team