This is a midterm election year — all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, and 39 gubernatorial seats are up for grabs in November. U.S. citizens have the right to vote in primary and general elections, no matter where in the world they live! If you're a U.S. citizen, dual-national, or will be 18 on or before 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 Abroadprovides all the information, forms, and support help in one place to make voting easy!
📌 Please note that there is NO IN-PERSON VOTING in the United Kingdom for the November election! 📌
✭ ✭ ✭ In 2022, voters from these states must mail in their ballots. Vote as soon as you get yours! Don't wait to return it! ✭ ✭ ✭
Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Ask on the request form (FPCA) that your ballot be sent to you by email
Submit your request form by email, if your state allows
Return your voted ballot electronically (email, upload or fax), if your state allows
If your state requires you to mail back your ballot:
Request your ballot NOW; you will get your ballot with a few days of your local election official receiving the request.
Download and vote your ballot as soon as you receive it
It is now too late to use the US Embassy pouch service!
Check return times for regular mail services before using.
If possible, please use a private courier service. See country discounts below.
Mail back ASAP. If after 20 October, consider using a courier service. Use USA10 for a 10% discount. More information and details are here: http://book.parcel.dhl.co.uk
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 takes 5-10 minutes! 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 foundhere.
If you have any questions while filling out your request form, go to the Vote from AbroadFAQ 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 video on how to use www.votefromabroad.org inEnglish.
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, clickhere 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 theMOVE 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.
You don't need to wait for ballots to arrive on September 24. If you're worried your ballot won't arrive on time, send in a Backup Ballot NOW. The Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) is specifically for overseas voters who are concerned they won't receive their official ballot in time to return it by the deadline. All details about the Backup Ballot can be foundhere.
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. Go tovotefromabroad.org if you need to send in a new FPCA absentee ballot request form.
If you haven’t received your ballot by early October and your state requires postal mail return, we recommend you send in a Backup Ballot to make sure your vote gets to your state in time. All details about the Backup Ballot can be foundhere.
5. Voting your ballot 🗳️
It’s easy to get informed about candidates, ballot initiatives, and judicial candidates and important to vote your ballot completely. State and local races are critical in 2022!
The simplest way is to vote for Democrats straight down the ballot. Some elected positions do not list a party affiliation, like school boards, judges, and others. To determine who to vote for in those cases, you can do the following:
Go to Ballotpedia - Example: google “Ballotpedia Arizona elections 2022”
Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website
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 ismore information on fax submission.
If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Austria.
New Jersey Voters: Please note that New Jersey allows for email or fax returns, but requires that the ballot ALSO be sent by postal mail.
If your state requires postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from the Austrian Postal Service. 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 stampto be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here.
➡The U.S. Embassy/Consulate diplomatic pouch: The U.S. Embassy in UK 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. You can download a free U.S. postage-paid return envelope template at FVAP.gov.
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. Use a Back-up Ballot to make the diplomatic pouch deadline if your regular ballot hasn’t arrived. Find out more here.
If your state requires postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service.
Need to use a courier service? Call or email your local election office in the United States to check out the best address to use, and then check out courier solutions. Some couriers have provided discounts for some countries for mail return to the U.S.
– add your country's info:
Special deals for Courier services:
Austria-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA20
Canada-Democrats Abroad members get 50% off ballot return with UPS
Czech Republic-All voters get 20% off mail return with DHL with code US20
Estonia-All voters get 28% off ballot return with DHL with promo code USA22
France-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA20
Germany- All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL with code USA10
Hungary-All voters get 30% off ballot return with DHL with code USA30 until October 31st
Ireland-All voters get 20% off ballot return when using code USA20 at a physical DHL location
Israel-All voters get a 17% DHL discount when following instructions in this link
Italy-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL when using code USA20 at a physical DHL location
Poland-All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL with code USA10
Lithuania-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA20
Spain-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USA2022
Turkey-All voters get 20% off ballot return with DHL with code USATURKEY20
UK-All voters get 10% off ballot return with DHL when using code USA10
Even with expedited courier services though, ballots still take several days to get to the United States. Please send your ballot as soon as possible! Do not wait! You should – and some states require you – ask for a postmark or date stampto be placed on the outer envelope. Find out your state’s requirements here. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.
DHL is offering a discount to send mail (including your ballot) from UK to the US. The discount is available from 09/15 to 11/15, 2022.
DHL cannot send to a P.O. Box! Be sure to confirm a street address with your local election official if a P.O. Box is the return address on your ballot.
If you are booking online pickup, please ensure that delivery will be on or before Election Day or that there is a date stamp on the envelope.
Please do not use an online booking service if your state requires a postmark to be on the outside envelope AND your ballot might arrive close to or after Nov 8! Find out your state’s requirements here.
📌 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 detailshere 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 statescan be confusing — that's why we're here to help! Send us an email at [email protected] or contact [email protected]
10. Get your "I Voted from United Kingdom" sticker
Thank you for voting! If you would like to print an “I Voted from United Kingdom” sticker go here.
Democrats Abroad United Kingdom (DAUK) is the official country committee for U.S. Democrats living in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Whatever your interest, wherever you live in the UK, you can help us get out the vote in 2022. Join today!
Wen-Wen Lindroth, Chair, Democrats Abroad United Kingdom (DAUK) [email protected]
For all media inquiries, please contact [email protected] or +44 20 3514 1410
DAUK has chapters and regional groups throughout the UK, all led by dedicated volunteers. If you're a U.S. citizen living in one of the areas and would like to be involved in our Get Out The Vote efforts, please get in touch.
DAUK has committees and caucuses that dig deeply into the issues and policies affecting all Americans. They present inspiring events and activities throughout the year.
Jeff Graham of Georgia Equality recently spoke to the LGBTQ+ Caucus. Special guest Jeff Graham tells his story of fighting for voting rights in Georgia. Jeff is the executive director of Georgia Equality, an organization that works to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities throughout Georgia.
The Democrats Abroad United Kingdom 2021 General Meeting and Elections will be held virtually via Zoom on Saturday, March 20th 2021, from 12 noon to 3pm.
You can view the list of candidates and their statements here.
Democrats Abroad UK relies on the commitment of its many volunteers. Standing for office is a positive way to help progress our work and we encourage nominations from a broad representation of our members.
If you’re interested in standing as a candidate, or nominating someone else,please submit this nomination formby midnight (i.e. 11.59 pm) on Saturday, February 20th, 2021.
Nominees must be members of Democrats Abroad UK as of January 31st, 2021, and must maintain their membership up to and including the date of the General Meeting.
Our phone banking team is on it! They've made over 1,600 calls in just one week. The current UK campaign is targeting voters in swing congressional districts. At this significant time, this is a great way to channel your emotions into ACTION!
Join us to learn how to make calls from your computer to ensure that all Democrats Abroad members in the UK are ready to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections.
The next training session will be on June 27th, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Ahead of the Global Presidential Primary in March 2020, we'd like to build a community of DA members throughout the country, so that when the time comes for us to vote, we're ready and mobilized. Already we've heard from members in Berkshire, South Wales, and the Cotswolds. We're working to put together groups in these areas. We'll help you to provide organizing support from our Voter Registration and GOTV teams and explain the Global Presidential Primary in detail. Email [email protected] for more information.
A reminder that Saturday, February 9, 2019 is the deadline to nominate someone (including yourself) for all roles including: officers, voting representatives, ex comm members or council members. Please submit your nominations by the end of the day (i.e. 11:59 p.m.).
The elections will take place following the Annual General Meeting and during the Biennial General Meeting of DAUK on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at David Game College, 31 Jewry Street, London EC3N 2ET.
If you would like to nominate someone (including yourself) for any role please contact us via this nomination form by Saturday, February 9, 2019.
If you plan to attend the General Meeting, please RSVP on our pageon Eventbrite.
Have any questions, concerns or would like to volunteer at the General Meeting? Please contact the Elections Committee at [email protected]
The GOTV team had a recap meeting of our 2018 efforts in December. In short, with the help and support of DA International, the DAUK ExComm, committee chairs and other members, our team held well over 100 drives in 2018. We registered more voters, especially students, went to more locations outside London and held more repeat drives than ever before. The upshot is we want to do more of what we did in 2018 and do it better. Absentee ballots made the difference in key races in 2018. We hope to replicate and amplify that success in 2020. DAUK members interested in helping at any level, please email [email protected] A spring planning meeting will be confirmed, and drives will start in January 2020.
Incisive talk from Prof. Fran Moore of UC Davis on US progress toward climate goals since the Paris Agreement. Key takeaway: US and the world must seriously step up decarbonization efforts, to keep global warming below 2°C and prevent severe economic and environmental impacts. Key action point: Vote Democrat down ballot this November and every election going forward, to put the US government back on track on environmental policy.
If you’d like to contribute to related research and activism (laypeople welcome), please contact the DAUK Policy Network Environment & Energy group at [email protected]
Since the start of 2018, the DAUK voter registration team has been very busy, holding drives at Arcadia, University College London, SOAS University, Queen Mary University, Canary Wharf, Cadogan Hall, Fordham University Study Abroad, New York University Study Abroad, Foundation International Education, Richmond University, Facebook, women’s clubs, international schools and several DAUK events. We’ve also held three training sessions for new volunteers and supplemented our efforts with social media, an effective way to steer citizens to votefromabroad.org.
More drives are in the works, and we’re gearing up for even more in the fall, when all study abroad students will need absentee ballots for the general election on November 6. However, we need help finding new locations and getting access to some old ones, where our contacts have moved on (London School of Economics and Kings College, to name two). We also want to reach out to many more American alumni associations. If you can help, write [email protected] Huge thanks goes to the entire DAUK Voter Registration Team!
