Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon and Pennsylvania
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
Overseas voters can participate in the 2018 Democratic Primary Elections and impact the ideological direction of the party through the nomination of candidates.
- Idaho — Primary ballot has federal election candidates for U.S. Representative; statewide election candidates for Governor (currently held by Republican Butch Otter), Lieutenant Governor, Idaho Secretary of State, Attorney General, Idaho Supreme Court, Idaho Court of Appeals, Idaho State Representative, possibly Idaho State Senate. In Idaho, the Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary; the Republican Party allows only voters registered with its party. Idaho has a Republican trifecta since 1995!
- Nebraska — Primary ballot includes federal election candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Republican Deb Fischer) and U.S. Representative; statewide races for Governor (currently held by Republican Pete Ricketts), Nebraska Secretary of State, Attorney General, Nebraska Supreme Court, possibly Nebraska State Senate. Nebraska has a Republican trifecta since 2017.
- Oregon — Primary ballot lists federal election candidates candidates for U.S. Representative; statewide election* candidates for Governor (currently held by Democrat Kate Brown), Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, member of the Oregon House of Representatives, possibly Oregon State Senate. Oregon has a Democratic trifecta since 2013.
- Pennsylvania — Primary ballot has federal election candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Bob Casey) and U.S. Representative; and statewide election* candidates for Governor (currently held by Democrat Tom Wolf), Lieutenant Governor, Pennsylvania State Representative, possibly Pennsylvania State Senate.
- PA House District 48 & 178 (General) — Special primary election to choose candidates for the August 7 Special Election.
*Overseas voters from Oregon and Pennsylvania who indicate they "intend to return" are eligible to vote in state and local elections and ballot measures.
Trifecta – when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government.
Questions about the primary?
Take a look at our Primary Elections FAQ.
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)
| Idaho voters | Voter Registration | (Must mail) Received by Friday, April 20 |
| Ballot Request | Received by Friday, May 4 | |
| Nebraska voters | Voter Registration |
Request by Email or Fax:
Received by Monday, April 30 or
Request ballot by Mail:
Postmarked by Monday, April 30
|
| Ballot Request | Received by 6pm on Friday, May 4 | |
| Oregon voters | Voter Registration | (Must mail) Received by Tuesday, April 24 |
| Ballot Request |
Request Mail Ballot:
Received by Thursday, May 10 or
Request Email/Online, Fax Ballot:
Received by Tuesday, May 15
|
|
| Pennsylvania voters | Voter Registration |
Request by Email or Fax:
Received by Monday, April 16 or
Request by Mail:
Postmarked by Monday, April 16
|
| Ballot Request | Received by Monday, May 14 |
Return Voted Ballot
If you have received your official ballot, Vote now by marking the ballot and sending it back to your election official without delay!
| Idaho voters | (Must mail) Received by Tuesday, May 15 |
| Nebraska voters | Received by 6pm on Friday, May 4 ** |
| Oregon voters | Received by 8pm on Tuesday, May 15 |
| Pennsylvania voters | (Must mail) Sent by 11:59pm on Monday, May 14 (and received by 5pm Tuesday, May 22) |
**Nebraska voters: if you wish to return your Absentee Ballot by EMAIL or FAX, you must contact your local election official for prior approval.
Vote with the FWAB
Haven't received your ballot yet? Absentee voting has begun for the May 15 primaries: ballots were sent by March 31 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.
Pennsylvania, Idaho voters:
- If you haven't requested a ballot, or if your election official has not received it, you still need to send the FPCA form before the request deadline, and before or at the same time as the FWAB.
- Follow FWAB by Mail Instructions...
- If you are using the FWAB for Voter Registration or Ballot Request, the FWAB must be received by the relevant deadline.
- Follow FWAB Instructions...
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.