Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York
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
Massachusetts: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Warren) and U.S. House; Statewide office candidates for Governor of Massachusetts (currently Republican Charles D. Baker), Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Senate and House. Massachusetts has a hybrid primary that allows those voters not registered in a party to participate and remain unaffiliated.
Delaware: Thursday, September 6, 2018 — Federal offices for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Tom Carper) and U.S. House. State offices are Attorney General, State Senate and House. Delaware has a vulnerable Democratic trifecta since 2008.
New Hampshire: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 — Federal office candidates for U.S. House; State office candidates for Governor (sitting governor Republican Chris Sununu is not seeking re-election in 2018), State Senate and House. New Hampshire has a hybrid primary system, that allows unaffiliated voters to choose a party before voting. New Hampshire has a Republican trifecta since 2011.
Rhode Island: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 — Federal office candidates for U.S. Senate (incumbent Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse) and U.S. House; Statewide office candidates for Governor (currently Democrat Gina Raimondo) and Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Senate and House. Rhode Island has a hybrid primary that allows unaffiliated voters to choose to affiliate with a party and vote in the primary. Rhode Island has a Democratic trifecta since 2013.
New York: Thursday, September 13, 2018 — State Primary Election will determine candidates for Governor (currently Democrat Andrew Cuomo is seeking a third term) and Lt. Governor of New York, Attorney General, Comptroller, State Senate and State Assembly. The New York Federal Primary was held on June 26, 2018.
* Overseas voters from Delaware, New York and Rhode Island who indicate they "intend to return" may vote in New York's state elections.
Hybrid primary – Voters affiliated with a political party can vote in that party's primary, and unaffiliated voters may choose a party primary.
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)
- When you receive your ballot, vote right away and send it back to your election official by the deadline.
| Massachusetts – September 4, 2018 | ||
| Voter Registration | not required | |
| Ballot Request | received by Friday, August 31, 5pm EDT | |
| Return Ballot | received by Tuesday, September 4, 8pm EDT | |
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| Delaware – September 6, 2018 | ||
| Voter Registration | (by email, fax) received by or (by mail) postmarked by Monday, August 20 | |
| Ballot Request |
REQUEST Mail Ballot: received by Friday, August 31 or |
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REQUEST Email/Online, Fax Ballot: received by Wednesday, September 5, noon EDT |
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| Return Ballot | received by Thursday, September 6, 8pm EDT | |
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| New Hampshire – September 11, 2018 | ||
| Voter Registration | received by Tuesday, September 11 | |
| Ballot Request | received by Monday, September 10 | |
| Return Ballot | (must mail) received by Tuesday, September 11 | |
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| Rhode Island – September 12, 2018 | ||
| Voter Registration | Monday, August 13 (fax or mail) | |
| Ballot Request | received by Wednesday, August 22, 4pm EDT (fax or mail) | |
| Return Ballot | received by Wednesday, September 12, 8pm EDT (fax* or mail) *Fax only if you requested your absentee ballot by fax. |
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| New York State Primary – September 13, 2018 | ||
| Voter Registration | received by Monday, August 20 *If you send your FPCA by email or fax, you must also mail the form |
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| Ballot Request | received by Thursday, September 6 *If you send your FPCA by email or fax, you must also mail the form |
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| Return Ballot | (must mail) postmarked by Wednesday, September 12 and received by Thursday, September 20 | |
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Vote with the FWAB
Don’t have your ballot yet? Absentee voting has begun: ballots for the September Primaries have been sent to voters with valid requests. You can vote today using the backup ballot called the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
- Complete the FWAB and send it to your election official.
- New Hampshire, New York voters: follow FWAB by Mail Intructions...
- If you haven't requested a ballot, or if it was never received,
- If using the FWAB to for Voter Registratrion or as Ballot Request: The FWAB must be received by the Registration/Request deadline.
- New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island 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.