Absentee voting overseas

Extensive information about absentee registration and voting appears on the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website (www.fvap.gov). The FVAP website includes a frequently asked questions section (PDF 566.36KB). You can also call FVAP via a toll-free telephone number from Venezuela: 0800-100-3678.

Note: Absentee voters should request their ballots at least 60 days before the election.

Who Can Vote from Overseas?

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows certain U.S. citizens to vote absentee, including members of the U.S. Uniformed Services on active duty and merchant marine and their family members and to U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. Members of the U.S. Uniformed Services or merchant marine and their family members may vote absentee while away from their place of voting residence, wherever stationed, within or outside the United States.

The UOCAVA also applies to U.S. citizens residing outside the United States and its territories. These citizens may vote in the state or territory where they last resided immediately prior to departing the United States, even if many years have elapsed and the citizen maintains no residence in the state or territory and the intent to return to that state or territory may not be certain. Most states and territories permit these citizens to vote in elections for Federal offices only, although some states may send a ballot containing local, state and Federal offices.  

Note that the UOCAVA provides that voting for Federal offices shall not affect the determination of the voter's place of residence for purpose of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law. Liability for state income tax, however, may be incurred in some states by voting absentee in state or local elections. To assess the probability of incurring state taxes on income earned outside the United States, you may wish to consult legal counsel for details.

• Primary Election Calendar (PDF 35.72KB).  

Registering to Vote

In order to register to vote and/or to request an Absentee Ballot, an eligible US citizen must accurately complete a Federal Post Card Application form (FPCA) and submit that to the proper US election official. The FPCA is used to:

• Register to Vote in Federal, State and Local Elections
• Request an Absentee Ballot
• Report Changes of Address
  
  

The extent and manner of FPCA usage is controlled by state and territory law, and sometimes by local procedure. For information on your state's requirements, please visit the Federal Election Commission Web Page (FEC) website, or contact the American Citizens Services office at 907-8365.

The deadline for submitting the FPCA may vary from state to state. In general, in order to ensure timely delivery of the election ballot to you, every non-registered citizen is urged to submit the FPCA into the hands of the appropriate election official at least 60 days prior to the election; registered citizens are urged to submit the FPCA into the hands of the appropriate election official at least 45 days before the election.

If your state instructs you to notarize the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form and/or your Voting Ballot form, the American Citizens Services branch can perform this service. There is no charge. Our hours are from 08:30-11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday except for U.S. and Venezuelan holidays and training days.

Mailing your FPCA (and later your Voting Ballots) to the U.S.

All U.S. voting material is marked "U.S. Postage Paid" for mailing in the U.S. Overseas voters have several options for mailing:

• The Embassy's American Citizens Services section can mail your completed FPCA and voting ballot without charge, but CANNOT fax or express mail them for you.
• You can airmail your completed FPCA and Voting Ballot from Venezuela by affixing the appropriate Airmail Postage
  
  

For More Information...

The best single source of information is the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website.

Also you can find additional information at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (fvap)main page

On their site you'll find:

• Comprehensive information about voting in US elections
• Information on Electronic (Fax) Transmission Service
• Assistance from the Federal Voting Ombudsman with absentee voting problems and issues
• Help with urgent requests for registration and/or a ballot
• Help if you have not received a status reply from the local election official in your county or voting residence the Voting Information Center (VIC) and...
• Information on elections, and recorded messages from Governors, Congresspersons and candidates for state and federal offices.

If after reviewing the site you still have additional questions, you can contact Federal Voting Assistance Program by e-mail, or, by phone in the U.S. at 800-438-8683 or from Venezuela at 0800 100 3602.

Or you can contact your local voting assistance officer by mail: votecaracas@state.gov