How To Vote From China
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U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, wherever they reside!
If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on November 8, 2022, you have the right to vote from abroad in US elections — including in the November 2022 midterms!
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., 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!
The U.S. State Department recommends, “all U.S. citizens living abroad complete and submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) annually, to ensure you remain on your state’s voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information.” Vote From Abroad provides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy! Please note that there is no in-person voting, all voters in China must register and submit an overseas absentee ballot.
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States requiring ballot return via postal mail:
Arkansas ✭ Connecticut ✭ Georgia ✭ Idaho ✭ Illinois ✭ Iowa ✭ Kentucky ✭ Maryland ✭ Michigan ✭ Minnesota ✭ Missouri ✭ New Hampshire ✭ New Jersey ✭ New York ✭ Ohio ✭ Pennsylvania ✭ South Dakota ✭ Tennessee ✭ Texas ✭ Vermont ✭ Virginia ✭ Wisconsin ✭ Wyoming
Visit www.votefromabroad.org/states for specific information by state
Don't wait, return your ballot immediately!
HOW TO EXPRESS SHIP YOUR BALLOT USING SF EXPRESS:
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- Find the SF Express Mini Program on Wechat
- Select the third option at the top for International Shipping
- Select "Send Express"
- Fill out your address information and your Local Election Official's address information
- Schedule the pickup within an hour!
- Be sure the date/time are stamped on the outside envelope.
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KEY POINTS FOR VOTING
Track your request form and your ballot
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What's covered on this page:
1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot
2. Confirming your request has been accepted
4. Oct 1 and the ballot hasn’t arrived?
7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes
8. Confirming your ballot's arrival
9. What to do if you encounter difficulties
10. Getting your "I Voted from China" Stickers
1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot for the 2022 midterm elections
The first step is to request your ballot, and if need be, register to vote from abroad. You should do this every election year to ensure you remain on your state’s overseas voter rolls and to ensure your local election office has your up-to-date contact information. It’s important to register as an absentee voter from abroad because the ballots of US citizens voting from abroad have special protections and are different from the standard absentee ballot.
Go to votefromabroad.org to fill out your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) absentee ballot request — it is fully digital and fast! If you're not registered to vote, the FPCA also serves as a voter registration form. Choose the option to receive ballots by email.
The second step is to submit the FPCA absentee ballot request form to your local election office in the United States. 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].
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Watch a video on how to use votefromabroad.org. |
2. Confirming your request has been accepted ✅
After submitting your FPCA absentee ballot request form, call or email your Local Election Official (LEO) to confirm they have received it and will be sending your ballot. Your LEO's contact information is listed in the instructions generated when you fill out your FPCA form at Vote from Abroad. You can also look up their contact info here.
Most states provide a website where you can verify your voter status. To find your state's website, click here and scroll down to “Where Is My Ballot?"
3. Receiving your ballot 📬
Your overseas absentee ballot is not your standard absentee ballot back home! Thanks to the MOVE Act, all states must send FPCA-requested absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election — this year that’s September 24, 2022.
And, if requested, all states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.
4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭
Check your spam folder. Still no ballot? Contact your local election official here and confirm they’ve sent your ballot to you. Visit votefromabroad.org if you are required to submit need a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.
Use a Back-up Ballot (FWAB) if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Download the FWAB HERE.
5. Completing your ballot 🗳️
Every race matters! It’s easier than ever to read up on candidates and ballot initiatives. There are some state ballots where party affiliation is not listed, such as in the case of school boards and judges. To determine who to vote for in 2022, you can do the following:
- Visit Ballotpedia, where every state and election are listed.
- Check the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service.
- Find DA China on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our graphic guides and follow candidates running in various state races.
➡️ Be sure to vote in every election listed on your ballot ⬅️
6. There are lots of ways to return your ballot!
📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌
Ballot return methods – by email, online, postal mail, fax – vary by state. Always return your ballot as quickly as possible, but especially if your state only allows postal mail return. Find your state's exact ballot return methods here.
If your state allows email, online upload or fax for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to delay! Here is more information on fax submission.
If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from China.
New Jersey: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.
New York: Here are instructions on How to fold the New York State General Election ballot.
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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 |
➡ Courier Service:
This is the best way to ensure your ballot arrives expediently and is counted. Please send your ballot as soon as possible, as even courier services can experience delays. You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here.
➡ International Postal Service:
If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from China Post. Please remember mail service can be slow and send your ballot as soon as possible!
You should – and some states require you – to ask for a postmark or date stamp to be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here.
➡ The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch:
The U.S. Consulate in China requests that ballots sent by the diplomatic post be dropped off no later than four weeks before the ballot due date. You will need to place your ballots in a U.S. postage paid return envelopes (usually provided with your ballot) or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. Download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov. This can be cut and pasted, or printed directly onto an envelope.
In China, the deadline to drop off ballots is October 1st. Consulates are closed on U.S. and Chinese holidays, meaning they are closed October 1st. Make a plan to submit your ballot to a consulate by September 30th. More information can be found here. 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.
📌 Remember! Only use a mail service if you cannot return your ballot electronically 📌
7. Checking twice to prevent mistakes 👀
When filling out and packaging your ballot, don't forget to review the instructions carefully. Don't let human error spoil your ballot!
Regardless of how you send in your ballot, remember that you – the voter – must be the one who places it “in the mail.” In some states, it is unlawful for any other person to handle your voted ballot, even if it is sealed. Unsure? Find out your state’s requirements here.
8. Confirming your ballot's arrival at your local election office in the United States ✓✓
Once you've sent 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!
The easiest way to ensure your ballot has arrived is to go to "Track Your Ballot" on your state’s website. You can also look up your local election office's contact details here and contact them directly. They may be experiencing a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through to someone.
9. Having trouble? Need help? 😕
We understand that the voting process to some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email: [email protected], or contact [email protected].
10. Get your "I Voted from China" sticker
Find printable “I Voted from China” stickers here.
DACN has "I Voted" pins for sale, as well as free personalized, printable stickers. Please connect with us via social media, WeChat, or by emailing [email protected].
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Thank you for voting!
Please click below 👇 to let us know!
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★ Midterms matter ★
Change is possible.
Change is knocking on your door.
Change has come in the form of a ballot that your local election official mailed, e-mailed, or sent you via an online portal.
Vote in 2022 elections, so we may all enjoy a safer, more equitable tomorrow.
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