Alabama, California, Iowa, Montana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota
Overseas voters can participate in the 2018 Democratic Primary Elections and impact the ideological direction of the party through the nomination of candidates.
What is on the Primary Ballot
Alabama — Federal office candidates for U.S. Representative and state office candidates for Governor (currently held by Republican Kay Ivey) and Lieutenant Governor, Alabama Attorney General, Alabama Secretary of State, Treasurer, Supreme Court and Alabama State Senator and State Representative.
California — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Dianne Feinstein) and U.S. Representative; state office candidates for Governor (incumbent Democrat Jerry Brown is ineligible due to term limits) and Lieutenant Governor, California Attorney General, California Secretary of State, State Assembly member and possibly State Senator.
Iowa — Federal office candidates for the U.S. House; statewide elections include candidates for Governor (currently Republican Kim Reynolds), Iowa Attorney General, Iowa Secretary of State, Iowa State Representative and possibly State Senator.
Mississippi — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Republican Roger Wicker) and U.S. Representative. There will be a second election for the office of U.S. Senator on the November ballot, a nonpartisan special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Republican Thad Cochran.
Montana — The open primary ballot has candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Jon Tester) and the state's single member of the U.S. House; statewide races for Montana Supreme Court, Montana State House and possibly State Senate.
New Jersey — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Bob Menendez) and U.S. Representative.
New Mexico — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich and U.S. House; state office candidates include Governor (currently Republican Susana Martinez) Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, New Mexico Attorney General, New Mexico Secretary of State, Supreme court and New Mexico State Representative.
South Dakota — Federal office candidates for U.S. House and state office candidates for Governor (currently Republican Dennis Daugaard), South Dakota Attorney General, South Dakota Secretary of State, Supreme Court, State Senate, State House and a few ballot measures.
Questions about the primary?
Take a look at our Primary Elections FAQ.
Find dates of other 2018 Primary Elections.
Request your Absentee Ballot to vote in the Primary Election
Overseas voters need to submit the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) to request a ballot after January 1, 2018 to be guaranteed to receive ballots this year. Submit the FPCA now to vote in your state's primary, but also to be sure you are on the rolls to get an absentee ballot for every election in 2018, including the general election in November.
First-time voters may simultaneously register to vote and request a ballot using the FPCA if the form is submitted according to the voter registration deadline. All other voters must submit the FPCA by the ballot request deadline.
To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party ballot you want to receive on the FPCA.
- Go to www.votefromabroad.org to complete the Ballot Request form (FPCA).
- Print and Sign the form.
- Send the signed FPCA to your election official. You may EMAIL, FAX or MAIL your FPCA (except where indicated)
| Alabama | Voter Registration | Postmarked by Monday, May 21 (must mail) |
| Ballot Request | Received by Thursday, May 31 (must mail) | |
| Return Ballot | Postmarked by Tuesday, June 5 (and received by June 12) (must mail) *Ballot requires 2 witnesses | |
| California | Voter Registration | Postmarked by (mail) or Received by (online, fax) Monday, May 21 |
| Ballot Request | Received by Tuesday, May 29 | |
| Return Ballot | Postmarked by (mail) or Received by (fax) Tuesday, June 5 (and received by June 8) | |
| Iowa | Voter Registration | not required |
| Ballot Request | Received by Monday, June 4, 5pm | |
| Return Ballot | Postmarked by Monday, June 4 (and received by noon on June 11) (must mail) | |
| Mississippi | Voter Registration | Postmarked by Monday, May 7(mail) or Received by Saturday, May 26 (email or fax) |
| Ballot Request | no deadline | |
| Return Ballot | Received by Tuesday, June 5, 7pm | |
| Montana | Voter Registration Request and Ballot Submission |
use www.Vote4Montana.us for overseas voters by Tuesday, June 5, 8pm MDT |
| New Jersey | Voter Registration |
(to request Ballot-by-mail) Received by Sunday, May 6 or (to request Ballot-by-email or fax) Received by Tuesday, May 15 |
| Ballot Request |
(to request Ballot-by-mail) Received by Sunday, May 6 or (to request Ballot-by-email or fax) Received by Friday, June 1 |
|
| Return Ballot | Received by Tuesday, June 5, 8pm *If you send ballot by email or fax you must also immediately mail your ballot to the Board of Election. | |
| New Mexico | Voter Registration | Postmarked by (mail) or Received by (email or fax) Tuesday, May 8 |
| Ballot Request | Received by Friday, June 1 | |
| Return Ballot | Received by Tuesday, June 5, 7pm | |
| South Dakota | Voter Registration | Received by Monday, May 21 (must mail) |
| Ballot Request | Received by Monday, June 4, 5pm | |
| Return Ballot | Received by Tuesday, June 5 (must mail) |
If you have received your official ballot, Vote now by marking the ballot and sending it back to your election official without delay!
Vote with the FWAB
Haven't received your ballot yet? Absentee voting has begun for the June 5 primaries: ballots were sent by April 21 to voters with valid requests on file.* With less than 30 days to the election, vote today using the backup ballot called the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
- Complete the FWAB and send it to your election official.
- Alabama, Iowa, New Jersey, South Dakota voters: follow FWAB by Mail Intructions...
- If you haven't requested a ballot, or if it was never received,
- California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana voters: If using the FWAB to for Voter Registratrion or as Ballot Request: The FWAB must be received by the Registration/Request deadline.
- Alabama, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota voters: If you haven't requested a ballot, or if your ballot request was never received: You still need to send the FPCA form before the request deadline and before or with the FWAB.
Note: Because the legal requirements to establish "residence" or "domicile" for tax purposes are determined by state law and the specific facts of your life, it is important that you seek advice on these matters from your tax professional. Even if registering to vote in state and local elections is not sufficient on its own to make you liable for state taxes, other factors such as maintaining a state driver's license or maintaining a mail forwarding address at a relative's home may make you liable for state taxes.