How to Vote from Abroad in 2026
For Countries without a DA Country Committee, "NonCC Countries"
If you're a U.S. citizen or dual-national abroad, and will be 18 years old on the date you vote, you have the right to vote from abroad in Federal elections, and in your state elections if your state permits.
As a U.S. citizen, you can register to vote from abroad while living, working, or traveling overseas by submitting one form, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), most effectively accessed by overseas voters through VoteFromAbroad.org. Registering as a citizen living abroad entitles you to the special voting rights afforded to overseas voters by UOCAVA, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. It doesn't matter if you were registered to vote before you left the U.S. or how long you have lived outside the U.S. (including if you've never resided there).
Below you'll find an overview of the entire process of voting from Belize including how to:
- Register and Request a Ballot
- Confirm and Receive a Ballot
- Vote and Return a Ballot
- Track a Ballot
Questions along the way? Contact [email protected] at any point!
You can download a pdf version of this information here
- Register to vote and request your ballot - each year.
Visit VotefromAbroad.org to fill out your absentee ballot request, also known as the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)— it only takes 5-10 minutes! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA serves as a voter registration form as well. Be sure to choose the option to receive your ballot via email!
Every state has different submission rules and deadlines!
Your state’s can be found at Your State Rules on the VotefromAbroad.org homepage.
If you have any questions while filling out the form, you can refer to FAQs, also on the homepage. If you don’t find your answer listed there, click the online Voter Help Desk’s red circle 
at the bottom right and type in your question. Or email: [email protected].
2. Confirm your request has been accepted and that you will receive a ballot
You should always verify with your local election official that you will be receiving a ballot. After you submit your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) request form, if they don’t send you a confirmation of receipt right away, call or email your local election official to verify they received it and will be sending a blank ballot to you. You can look up their contact information at Your State Rules.
The contact information is also listed in the instructions generated when you complete the FPCA on VotefromAbroad.org. You can also check your state’s website to verify your voter status by clicking on Am I Registered? on your state entry page under “Additional Resources.”
By federal law pertaining to overseas voters, all states must send Federal absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election (MOVE Act). For the November 3 elections: September 21.
When it's time for ballots to come and you don't see yours, check your spam folder - ballots can hide in there! If you still don't see it within a few days, contact your local election official and confirm they sent your ballot out. Remember, you can look up your local election official’s contact info at Your State Rules.
Important for mail-return only ballot return:
If at any time you're concerned that you won't be able to return your ballot in time, use a Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB) - see details below under Vote and Return your Ballot.
3. Vote and Return your Ballot
Return your ballot ASAP via the easiest and quickest option available for your state!
Because ballot return methods vary by state, carefully check your state’s guidelines on return via online upload, email, fax, or postal mail at Your State Rules. If your state only allows postal mail return you must return your ballot as quickly as possible! See mail-return options below.
Returning your ballot via email or online upload
Bingo! If your state allows, these are the easiest, fastest options. Use these!
(Note that DA continually works with individual state representatives to promote legislation that would allow these option for all states. )
Returning your ballot via fax
If you don’t have a fax machine or international fax service isn’t easily available, you can use an Email-to-Fax service! Free Email-to-Fax services are available online;
HelloFax allows you to send up to 5 pages for free.
FAX.PLUS allows you to send up 10 pages for free.
Note: FVAP's email-to-fax service is no longer being offered under the current administration.
Returning your ballot via mail if your state requires postal mail ballot return:
Post Office
IF you have reliable postal service in your country and IF you are sending your ballot back early enough to allow time for delivery to your local election office in the states. Be sure to add international postage to your Postage Paid envelope and request tracking service.
Courier Service
Courier service is a more reliable and timely option, but of course more costly. For fees and locations nearest you, contact the local courier services available in your country. This is a good time to assess the value of your vote!
Address your courier delivery package to your Local Election Office provided with your ballot.
---> Tip: Family members whose ballots are in separate postage-paid envelopes and both addressed to the same local election office may use one courier delivery package.
Important: You must ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope when mailing using any service.
---> Tip: Check your state’s deadline for ballot return and count backwards to ensure timely delivery. The postmark date is important to ensure your ballot is counted!
---> Tip: Even with expedited courier services, ballots still take several days to get to the United States.
Note: The following information needs to be confirmed for 2026
Diplomatic pouch delivery from the US Embassy in your country:
Check with your country's Embassy to see if they are offering diplomatic pouch delivery service to the US. This is a free service offered by most US embassies for US citizens to return their voted ballots and official voting materials to a US sorting center facility, where it will then be sent to your local election office as addressed via the US Postal Service. Ballots must be placed in the postage paid return envelope provided with your ballot or in an envelope bearing sufficient U.S. postage. Call or email the US Embassy in your country for specific information.
Due to time constraints, DA does not recommend using the diplomatic pouch any fewer than 4 weeks prior to deadlines.
Especially important for voters from Non-CC countries that do not have reliable mail systems within their countries:
Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB):
For states requiring mail back ballots, you don't need to wait for ballots to come out. If you must mail back your ballot, we recommend sending in a Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB) as a backup once the ballots for your state have been finalized!
Although abbreviated, the FWAB allows you to use a quicker and more economical method of mail, courier, or embassy/consult delivery if time is short (see below in section 3). If you then receive your state’s complete official ballot in time to mail or courier it back, you can do so! Your FWAB ballot will be superseded by your state’s ballot - you will not be voting twice.
The FWAB is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found in FAQs Here
You can easily fill out online and download a FWAB backup ballot at: FWAB backup ballot ONLINE or download and fill out by hand online here: FWAB backup ballot
Regardless of how you send your ballot
---> Tip: Know that it is unlawful in some states for a second party to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. To ensure lawful ballot return, place your ballot in the mail, provide to the courier, or hand in for the diplomatic pouch. You can contact [email protected] to find out if your state is one that disallows second party handling of voted ballots.
4. Track your ballot
Once you've mailed your ballot, follow up with your local election official to make sure that it arrived and will be counted. Nearly all states have online tracking services. To find your state's website, go to Your State Rules and scroll down to "Track Your Ballot." On the same web page, you can also look up your local election office's contact details and contact them directly. If they are experiencing an influx of calls or emails, you may need to remain persistent, but this can be the most direct and reliable way to track your ballot.
---> Tip: Know that voter error is the main cause of ballot rejection!
Important: Contact our Voter Protection volunteers for help “curing” any signature problems.
Having trouble? Need help?
We understand that the voting process from abroad can be confusing — that's why we're here to help. Send an email to [email protected]
Copy and Print your sticker!
Download Country Stickers Here
Note: If your country is not included below, choose your country from the options provided on the website.
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REVIEW OF KEY POINTS FOR VOTING
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Need help scanning your ballot? Watch this video on how to scan using your smartphone. If you don't have a scanning app on your phone, you can use Adobe Scan mobile app for iPhone & Android |