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 the 2024 State Primary and Federal elections.
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!
- 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!
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On how to use VotefromAbroad.org |
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 absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election (MOVE Act).
---> Tip: 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) NOW as a backup! Although an abbreviated, write-in ballot, this 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
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, contact your local election official and confirm they sent your ballot out. Remember, you can look up your local election oficial’s contact info at Your State Rules.
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 online upload or email
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! The Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP) offers one free. Simply download an FVAP Transmission Cover Sheet; fill it out and EMAIL it along with your completed ballot to [email protected]; they will convert your email to a fax and fax it to your local election office as listed on your Cover Sheet.
Note: If you wait until too close to November 5th, the FVAP service will get busy and they won’t be able to guarantee your faxed ballot will arrive by your state’s deadline; it would then be best to use an alternate service.
Other free Email-to-Fax services are available online; two are:
HelloFax allows you to send up to 5 pages for free.
FAX.PLUS allows you to send up 10 pages for free.
Returning your ballot via mail
If your state requires postal mail ballot return, your options are :
Post Office
Use your local post office IF you have reliable postal service in your area! 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 main offices listed:
For direct return of your ballot to your Local Election Office:
Transexpress & UPS: 41 Albert Street , Belize City; ph: 501-227-2332
DHL: GQ5W+F28, Coney Dr, Belize City; ph: 501 223-1070
FedEx: 6 Fort St, Belize City; ph: 501 223-1575
---> 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.
Diplomatic pouch delivery from the US Embassy in Belmopan:
You can drop off your FPCA and/or completed absentee ballots at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan for delivery to the U.S. via Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) to a U.S. sorting facility, where they will then be sent to your local election office via US Postal Service. You will need to place your ballots in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage.
Voting material can be dropped off at the back entrance of the U.S. Embassy on Floriana Avenue (across from the British High Commission). The hours of acceptance are Monday to Thursday 08:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. DPO transit time from Belize to the United States is approximately four weeks, so submit your forms and ballots accordingly.
---> Tip: You can use Tropic Air agents to FedEx your sealed and properly addressed ballot envelopes to the Embassy in Belmopan.
Due to time constraints, DA does not recommend using the diplomatic pouch fewer than 4 weeks prior to deadlines.
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, you the voter, should place your voted ballot in the mail, provide to the courier, or hand in for the diplomatic pouch. Alternatively, 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]
Download your sticker!
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REVIEW OF KEY POINTS FOR VOTING ● Request your overseas on or after January 1st at www.votefromabroad.org ● Check the option (on the request form) to receive your ballots via EMAIL! ● Submit your request form online or by email, if your state allows; unfortunately, some states require you to mail your request. ● If your state allows you to return your voted ballot electronically – do it! (By email, upload, or fax). ● If your state requires you to mail back your ballot, set an earlier deadline for yourself! ○ Request your ballot now to receive it in time to vote by your state’s deadline. ○ Download and vote your ballot immediately! ○ Use your mail service or embassy or consulate’s diplomatic pouch only if time allows, or use a courier service to send it back. ● Track your request form and your ballot. ● Questions? [email protected] |
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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 |