Last updated: September 15, 2025

2025 may not be an even-numbered year, but voters abroad still have high-stakes elections important for defending democracy this November — and remember, for Americans abroad, November is NOW.

We recommend bookmarking this page so you can check back periodically in case there are any changes or special elections that arise.

🇺🇸🗳📣 MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED AND READY TO VOTE FROM ABROAD! Do it now. Protect your vote and protect our democracy by sending in your ballot request and voting in any elections that you may be eligible for in 2025. We recommend reading your ballot carefully and voting the whole ballot.

• Texas and Tennessee are holding Special Congressional Elections this fall/winter to fill vacant House seats: TX-18 (Houston area) and TN-7 (Middle and West Tennessee). All Texas and Tennessee voters abroad who vote in these districts can vote in these federal elections.
• Virginia statewide battleground races: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and every seat in the House of Delegates
• New Jersey statewide battleground races: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and every seat in the General Assembly
• Pennsylvania statewide battleground races: three state Supreme Court seats 
• California statewide battleground race: Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act, seeks to negate the Texas gerrymander ordered by Trump to steal the 2026 House elections. All California voters abroad can vote in this statewide election.
• Georgia statewide battlegrounds: two Public Service Commissioner seats
• Maine and Texas have statewide ballot initiatives that, if passed, would require voters to provide documentary proof in order to cast their ballots. Requiring additional documentary proof does nothing to prevent statistically non-existent voter fraud — but it does make it a lot harder for eligible voters to vote.
• Additionally, 38 major cities are electing mayors, including cities like New York, Miami, Minneapolis, Boston, and Cincinnati. 

All voters abroad are urged to send in an FPCA and to vote the whole ballot they receive. Even if you currently do not have an election, the FPCA will ensure you are registered as an overseas (UOCAVA) voter, update your voter information, and protect you from voter roll purges.

✅AVOID INTERNATIONAL POSTAL MAIL DISRUPTIONS: You can ask to get your ballot by email/online delivery; many states will also allow you to return it electronically — but only if you are registered as an overseas (UOCAVA) voter! Go to www.VotefromAbroad.org!  

✅RETURNING A BALLOT BY POSTAL MAIL? VOTE A BACKUP BALLOT! All voters abroad are urged to vote their ballot promptly and to return it right away. If your state requires that you return a ballot by postal mail, consider also voting a Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB). The Backup Ballot is available only to overseas voters — think of it as insurance for your vote! If both ballots arrive, only one will be counted.

✅ELIGIBILITY: All US citizens abroad who will be 18 years of age or older by the upcoming election can register to vote and request an overseas absentee ballot in the state where they last resided (or where their US citizen parent last resided) by submitting a single streamlined application form, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It just takes a few minutes. Get everything you need at www.VotefromAbroad.org!  

NEED HELP? 

• Visit VotefromAbroad.org, check the FAQ, or use the online chat bubble.
• We’re available for live, online voter help (via Zoom). Click here to make an appointment.

Email us at: [email protected]

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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

3. Receiving your ballot

4. Oct 1, and the ballot hasn’t arrived?

5. Voting your ballot

6. Returning your ballot

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 Germany" Stickers 

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1. Registering to vote and requesting your ballot

• In 2025, all voters abroad are urged to complete and return a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at VotefromAbroad.org to register and/or request your ballot for elections this fall. This ensures that they are registered as overseas voters, and not as in-state vote-by-mail voters.
  • ✅ TIP: The FPCA form registers you to vote, and also requests a ballot for all elections for which you are eligible that calendar year. It is also used to re-register and update any voter information changes— such as name, party affiliation, address changes, or ballot preferences.
  • Using this form provides additional Federal voter protections that may not be available to domestic vote-by-mail voters, such as: 
    • Getting your ballot sent to you by email /online download; 
    • Receiving your ballot 45 days before a federal election. 
    • Electronic return options for your voted ballot (varies by state);
    • Use of the Backup Ballot (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB) — the Backup Ballot can be used to vote, in case of problems getting or returning their regular ballot, or concerns with postal mail.
      
      
  • The FPCA is exclusively for uniformed services and civilian voters abroad (UOCAVA) to use, based on the last place you resided in the US. It does not matter how long you have been abroad, nor whether you still have other ties to your voting residence. Many states will allow US citizens who have never resided in the US to vote based on the last residence of their US citizen parent(s).
    
    
• Go to VotefromAbroad.org — it takes just a few minutes to complete.
  • ✅ TIP: Ask to receive your ballot by email/online to receive it as soon as ballots are available, and to be able to vote and return it as quickly as possible.
    
    
• Follow directions for returning your signed FPCA to your local election office (LEO) — usually by email. State-specific instructions are provided when you generate your FPCA form at VotefromAbroad.org.

2. Confirming your request has been accepted  ✅

After submitting the FPCA form, you may hear back from your local election office within a few days. If not, you can contact them to confirm that they have received your form and that you will receive a ballot.

• • Your local election office contact information is included in your FPCA instructions.
  • You can also look up your local election office contact here: VotefromAbroad.org/states
  • ✅ TIP: Be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK email folder for emails from your local election office.

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! All states must send overseas voters their ballot by email.

Under federal law (UOCAVA), states must start sending ballots to overseas voters 45 days before a federal election — this year, that date is September 20. In years without a federal election, state and local ballots may go out later.

• After September 20, you can still get a ballot as long as you send in your FPCA form by the voter registration or ballot request deadline for your state. Your local election office will typically send you a ballot within a few days of receiving your FPCA form. If in doubt, get in touch with your local election office. 
  • To look up deadlines for your state, or your local election office contact information, go here: www.VotefromAbroad.org/states

If you're worried your ballot won't arrive in time for you to return it by the deadline, 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 found here.

4. Your ballot hasn’t arrived? 📭

• Still waiting for your ballot? First, PLEASE CHECK your email spam/junk folder — a lot of ballots get stuck in there.
  
  
• Then contact your local election office, as they are the ones who issue ballots.   
  • Your local election office contact information is included in your FPCA instructions.

You can also look up your local election office contact here: VotefromAbroad.org/states.

If you haven’t received your ballot less than a month before your state's election 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 found here.

5. Voting your ballot 🗳️

Follow the directions that come with your ballot on how to vote it. Voters are encouraged to vote the entire ballot they receive.

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! 

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: 

• Blue Voter Guide helps you make informed, pro-democracy, and pro-working-family choices
• Google your county's local Democratic Party
• Go to the League of Women Voters personalized ballot service 
• Vote411
• Google the candidate's name to find their campaign website
• For California voters, CalMatters is an excellent resource.
• Local newspapers, unions, issue advocates, and other associations back home may also provide endorsements.

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. Always read the instructions that came with your ballot carefully! Find your state's ballot return methods here.

How To Return Your Voted Ballot By State/Territory

If your state allows email, online upload, or fax for ballot return, please use these options as they’re not subject to loss or delay! 

If your state allows fax but not email return, and you do not have access to a fax machine, we recommend using a free or inexpensive email-to-fax service or app, such as FaxZero, FaxPlus, GeniusFax, or HelloFax. Be sure to confirm that the fax transmission has been successful. Here is more information on fax submission.

If your state requires postal mail return, see info below on options from Germany.

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 does not allow electronic returns and requires ballot returns by postal mail, please check the mail delivery times. Be sure to allow enough time for your ballot to arrive by the deadline.

🚨CAUTION: Many countries are currently experiencing postal system delays or suspensions of letter service to the US due to tax increases on parcel mail. Check with your post office on current conditions. From Germany, using the local postal mail system is currently recommended. All voters are urged to vote and return their ballot as soon as possible, by the fastest method allowed by their state.

➡ The do's and don'ts of returning your ballot by postal mail:

• Use Deutsche Post only up until four weeks before the scheduled election.
  
• Take your ballot to the post office / courier to ensure it receives the correct postage.
• Request a Sendungsnummer to track your ballot.
• Ask for a postmark or date stamp (Zeitstempel) for the outer envelope.
• Do NOT send your ballot as registered mail (Einschreiben), as this may prevent it from being delivered (ex. if your county clerk isn’t there to sign, your ballot could be sent back to you).
• We do not recommend using the diplomatic pouch in Germany. Due to the unpredictable nature of the diplomatic pouch, we discourage its use unless you have no other alternative. Up until four weeks before the election, we recommend using a private courier, like DHL Express, FedEx, or UPS, if financially feasible. All states that require postal mail return have confirmed they will accept ballots sent with such couriers.
  

➡ International Postal Service:  

If your state requires a postal mail ballot return, one option is to use express international mail from the German 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 stamp (Zeitstempel) to be placed on the outer envelope. Always follow the instructions that came with your ballot carefully!

➡ Courier Service:

If your state requires a postal mail ballot return, the quickest option is to use a courier service like DHL, Federal Express, etc.

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 stamp (Zeitstempel) to be placed on the outer envelope. Follow the instructions that came with your ballot. We do not recommend booking or paying online with any courier service. You will not receive a postmark if you book or pay online.

Courier services 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.

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. Need help? Contact us at: [email protected]. 

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 in some states can be confusing — that's why we're here to help!

• Visit VotefromAbroad.org, check the FAQs, or use the online chat bubble.
• We’re available for live, online voter help (via Zoom). Click here to make an appointment.
• Send us an email at  [email protected]

10. Get your "I Voted from Germany" sticker

Thank you for voting!  If you would like to print an “I Voted from Germany” sticker, go here.