If you're a U.S. citizen or dual-national abroad, you have the right to vote from abroad in the 2024 elections and every election. If you are or will be 18 years old on November 5, 2024, 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:
- Register and Request a Ballot
- Confirm and Receive a Ballot
- Vote and Return a Ballot
- 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, we strongly encourage you to request that your absentee ballot be sent via email.
| Watch a video on how to use www.votefromabroad.org Watch Here |
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Every state is different! State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.
If you have any questions while filling out the form, you can also always refer to Vote from Abroad's FAQ section here. Type your question in the website's chat box (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner), or send an email to [email protected].
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 here.
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.) This year: September, 2024.
---> Tip: For states requiring mail back ballots, you don't need to wait for ballots to come out in September.
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 come and you don't see yours, check your spam folder -- ballots can hide in there! If you still don't see it, please contact your local election official and confirm they sent your ballot out. You can look up your local election oficial’s contact info here.
If you don't have your ballot by October 1 and you must mail it back, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be found here.
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 ***
Ballot return methods vary by state
Carefully check your state’s guidelines on return via online, email, postal mail and/or fax. 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.
Check your state's exact ballot return methods here. If your state allows email or fax ballot returns, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay. Find more information on fax submission here.
---> Tip: New Jersey Voters - Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but also requires that the ballot be sent by postal mail, too.
---> Tip: New York Voters - Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.
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 and DHL Brazil here.
- 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.
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.
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]
Please be aware that using the diplomatic pouch does not mean 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 after October 5th.
---> Tip: 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.
---> 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!
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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