Moving and living abroad
How do US citizens vote from abroad?
Last reviewed .
Send a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to the election office of your last US address. It registers you and requests absentee ballots in one step. FVAP recommends sending a new one every January and whenever your address changes. If your ballot does not arrive in time, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a backup.
Key facts
| Fact | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Form to register and request ballots | Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) | Official source |
| Backup ballot | Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) | Official source |
| Federal law | The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) covers overseas citizens | Official source |
| Where you vote | Usually the state of your last US residence | Official source |
Which state do you vote in from abroad?
Usually the state and county of your last US residence, even if you no longer own or rent anything there. Some states also let US citizens who were born abroad and never lived in the US vote through a parent's last address. FVAP lists each state's rules.
How do you request an absentee ballot?
Complete the FPCA on FVAP's site or on paper and send it to your local election office. Choose how you want to receive your ballot; many states can send it by email or online. Send a new FPCA each January and whenever you move, so the office has your current address.
What if your ballot does not arrive?
Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. You can fill it in with the candidates you choose and send it. If your official ballot arrives later, send that too; your election office counts only one.
Does voting affect your taxes?
Voting in federal elections from abroad does not, by itself, make you resident in a state for tax purposes under federal law protecting overseas voters. State tax rules still come from the state, so check its own guidance if you keep other ties there.
Checklist before you start
- Find your last US residential address.
- Complete the FPCA through FVAP.
- Pick email or online ballot delivery if your state offers it.
- Resend the FPCA every January and after moving.
- Keep a blank FWAB ready before each federal election.
- Note your state's ballot return deadline.
Common questions
Can I lose my right to vote by living abroad?
No. Overseas US citizens keep the right to vote in federal elections under UOCAVA, through their last US state of residence.
How often do I need to send the FPCA?
FVAP recommends every January and whenever your address changes.
Is there a fee to vote from abroad?
No. Registration and absentee ballots are free. We list absentee voting as a free service for the same reason.
Official sources
- Federal Voting Assistance Program. US Department of Defense, FVAP.
- UOCAVA fact sheet (PDF). US Election Assistance Commission.
- Voting from abroad. US Department of State.
Sources checked . Official pages change. Use the source over this summary if they differ.
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General information from official sources, not legal advice. The receiving authority decides what it accepts. Confirm its current instructions before you order or send anything. US Expat Desk is a private company. We are not affiliated with the US government, the State Department, or the FBI.