If you're a U.S. citizen or dual-national abroad, you have the right to vote from abroad in the 2026 elections and every election. If you are or will be 18 years old on November 3, 2026, you can vote in the upcoming 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). 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 Brazil including how to:

1. Register and Request a Ballot
2. Confirm and Receive a Ballot
3. Vote and Return a Ballot
4. Track a Ballot

Questions along the way? Here to help!

Contact [email protected] at any time with your questions on any stage of the process.

Before you begin ...

Please note! If your state requires you to mail in (vs fax or email) your voted ballot - check your state requirements here - then make sure to factor enough postal or courier time to meet the deadline. Ensure your voted ballot becomes a counted ballot.

1.  Register to vote and request your ballot

Visit www.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 also serves as a voter registration form. Given the uncertainty surrounding postal service, be sure to check the option to receive your ballots via email!

Every state has different submission rules and deadlines!

2.  Confirm your request has been accepted and that you will receive a ballot

Confirm your 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 request form, 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 info at Your State Rules.

The contact information is also listed in the instructions generated when you complete the FPCA on Vote from Abroad. Alternatively, most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status, although these sites can sometimes be outdated. You can find it by searching for "[state] verify voter registration."

Receive your ballot

All states must send absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election (MOVE Act.); for the November 3 Midterms, Sept. 19. 

--->  Tip:  For states requiring mail back ballots, you don't need to wait for ballots to come out. 

The Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or 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 here

When it's time for ballots to arrive 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. You can look up your local election official’s contact info here.

If you don't have your ballot shortly after September 19 and you must mail it back, we recommend you send in an FWAB Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time.  See details below under Returning your ballot via mail.  

3.  Vote and Return your ballot

Once you've received your ballot make sure to read the instructions carefully on where to sign and how to fill-in bubbles / boxes or writing in a candidate name.

*** Return your ballot ASAP ***

Remember, ballot return methods vary by state

Carefully check your state’s guidelines on return at Your State Rules for email, online upload, fax, or mail. Especially if your state only allows postal mail return — which is the case in many swing states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin — you must return your ballot as quickly as possible.

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 options 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! They will convert your email to a fax, then fax it to your local election office as written on  your Cover Sheet. 

 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.

Note:  FVAP’s previous email-to-fax service is no longer available under the current administration.  

Returning your ballot via mail

Private Carrier: If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the best options are :

• Take your ballot to a post office or book a private mail carrier. Links below with full information check the links to FedEx Brazil here . (Note: DHL requires a signature on the receiving end and election office officials DO NOT sign for mail.)
• Brazilian post offices also provide express international mail options. We recommend the Premium option which guarantees delivery date and allows tracking.  Check Correios Brasil Internacional here.

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.

--->  Tip: New York Voters - Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.

Note: The following diplomatic pouch delivery information needs to be confirmed for 2026.

2025: Returning your ballot via diplomatic pouch: Voters in Brazil can drop their ballots off in postage paid envelopes at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia or at Consulates in select cities. Confirm with your local Consulate.

To contact your Voting Assistance Officer, call or send an email:

• Brasilia – 61-3312-7000 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
• Porto Alegre – 51 3345-6000 or send an email to [email protected]
• Recife – 81-3416-3050 or send an e-mail to [email protected]
• Rio de Janeiro – 21-3823-2000 (2:00pm to 3:00pm) or send an e-mail to [email protected]
• São Paulo – 11-3250-5000 or send an e-mail to [email protected]

Be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not ensure your ballot will arrive faster. It can take up to four weeks for the mail to reach its final destination. Therefore, we do not recommend using the diplomatic pouch if your deadline is less than 4 weeks out. 

For all mail-return states: Consider sending a Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB) FWAB early for states requiring mail back ballots!  

Important:  For states requiring mail back ballots, if you are registered, you don't need to wait for ballots to come out on September 19 - especially as we are closer to election day. We recommend sending in a Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB) as a backup! This allows you to use a quicker and more economical method of mail, courier, or embassy/consult delivery (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 download, print, sign, and return a FWAB backup ballot at: FWAB backup ballot or fill one out online (then download, print, sign, and return) at: FWAB backup ballot ONLINE  or download and fill out by hand online here: 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 official's contact info at Your State Rules. 

Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you (the voter) must be the one who places it in the mail (or hands it over to the diplomatic pouch). In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Alternatively, contact [email protected] to find out if your state is one that disallows second party handling of voted ballots.  

--->  Tip:  And when filling out your ballot and packaging your ballot, remember to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot! Human error is the number 1 cause of ballot rejection! 

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. Please do not just assume that your ballot has made it! Nearly all states have online tracking services. To find your state's website, click here 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 try contacting them directly. They are experiencing an influx of calls, so you will likely need to remain persistent to get through to someone.

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]

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