🇺🇸 2026 Mid-Term Elections

This is a mid-term election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats (36 states and 3 territories) are up for grabs in November. All U.S. citizens who will be 18 on November 3, 2026 have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live. 

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

🇺🇸 Step 1: Make sure you’re registered and ready to vote from abroad

As a U.S. citizen living, working, or traveling overseas, you can protect your vote 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., how long you’ve lived outside the U.S., or if you've never resided in the U.S. at all. You have the right to vote! 

Submitting your FPCA every year registers you as a voter living abroad, requests all eligible ballots, and helps guard against voter roll purges. Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your FPCA absentee ballot request — it takes 5-10 minutes. Choose the option to receive ballots by email. 

Most states allow you to submit your FPCA directly from votefromabroad.org without the need to print it out, but some states require that you submit your completed form by email attachment, fax, or postal mail. State deadlines and submission methods can be found here.

If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from Abroad FAQ section or type your question in the website's chatbox (red circle in the bottom right-hand corner of each screen). Or you can email us at [email protected]. 

Watch a 2-minute video on How to Vote From Abroad

🇺🇸 Step 2: Returning your ballot from Luxembourg

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 paper ballot.

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.

Luxembourg International Post: If you send your ballot by Luxembourg Post, please use a Zone 4 stamp, which costs €2.40 for letter up to 50g. We recommend getting a stamped postmark establishing the date of mailing.

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.

• Do not require a signature upon delivery as this may prevent it from being delivered. 
• Couriers will not deliver mail to P.O. Boxes — check with your election officials to get a deliverable address for courier mail.

U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Mail Return

The Luxembourg U.S. Embassy allows U.S. citizens to access diplomatic mail for the return of U.S. election materials. 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 an official election mail “US postage-paid” envelope. Note that it can take up to 3 weeks for mail to reach its destination. See the Embassy’s voting page for more information. 

🇺🇸 Step 3: Confirm that 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.

🇺🇸 Step 4: Celebrate! Get Your "I Voted From Luxembourg" 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].