2026 How to Vote from Türkiye
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 Türkiye
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).
- Not sure how? Find guidance on fax programs and how to’s here: information on how to return a ballot by fax.
- 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.
USING PTT INTERNATIONAL POST
If you would like to send your ballot or other election materials back to the U.S. by PTT Post (main branches only), please use the following services:
- If sending the ballot with a comfortable buffer, you may use the PTT taahhütlü / registered international mail service. This service may take up to three weeks to arrive, so please only use it if you have ample time until the election deadline.
- If you are sending your ballot around 15 days to the election day deadline, we recommend TURPEX service; delivery can be around 3–5 (up to 7) business days.
Please note that not every local PTT branch offers TURPEX; larger “Başmüdürlük” or central branches are more likely to provide this service; and you often need to explicitly say “TURPEX yurtdışı ekspres gönderi.”
To find PTT locations nearby, visit https://enyakinptt.ptt.gov.tr. You may want to call the branch in advance to confirm if they provide international registered mail/TURPEX delivery service.
TIP: We recommend getting a stamped postmark establishing the date of mailing.
USING U.S. EMBASSY / CONSULATE DIPLOMATIC MAIL
As DA Türkiye, we believe using other delivery services are more dependable, as it may take longer, and you do not have any control over when your ballot would arrive, or have proof of delivery. If you’d still prefer to use the diplomatic pouch, here is the relevant information:
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?
You can mail your ballot or drop it off in person to the Consulate. For the general election, the Consulate should receive your ballot by October 3, 2026.
Voting materials can be mailed to:
U.S. Consulate General Istanbul
ATTN: American Citizen Services
Istinye Mah. Kaplicalar Mevkii No:2
34460 Istinye, Istanbul, Türkiye
For in-person drop off:
Please sign up for STEP (https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step). The Consulate will send out a message with details about when they will have a ballot drop-box available nearer to the general election date. If you need to make an appointment before the ballot drop-box is available, you can email them at ([email protected] or [email protected]).
Tip: When using diplomatic mail, don’t forget to request a consular postmark on your election materials
USING 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.
In Türkiye, the most popular international courier service is DHL, here is a link to get a quote and find locations: https://shipnow.dhl.com/tr/tr/get-a-quote
- TIP: Do not require a signature upon delivery as this may prevent it from being delivered.
- TIP: Couriers will not deliver mail to P.O. Boxes — check with your election officials to get a deliverable address for courier mail.
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].