Americans Overseas Have a Voice

Your vote is your voice. Why should Americans living overseas vote in the U.S. Midterm elections?

• U.S. laws can still affect you abroad. Federal policies influence issues such as citizenship, taxation, Social Security, consular services, veterans’ benefits, and foreign policy.
• Congress makes important decisions. Midterm elections determine who serves in the House of Representatives and many seats in the Senate. Those officials vote on spending, national security, healthcare, immigration, and other issues that can affect Americans both at home and overseas.
• Your vote helps shape the country’s future. Even if you don’t currently live in the U.S., you may return someday, and election outcomes can have long-term effects on the nation.
• Some elections are decided by very small margins. Overseas ballots have been significant in close races, so an individual vote can matter.
• Voting is a way to stay engaged in American democracy. Many overseas citizens view voting as both a right and a civic responsibility.

Ultimately, whom to vote for—or whether to vote at all—is a personal decision. But for eligible Americans living abroad, participating in elections is one way to have a say in the direction of the country and the policies that may affect them and their families.

Yes, YOUR VOTE MATTERS!!  Don’t let others speak for you.  By voting you can hire or fire federal elected officials.  Do you want America to be controlled by Zohran Mamdani?  Do you want elected officials to take away your right to vote or the right to vote by children born overseas to an American parent?

Voting from overseas is easy, but you have to follow your state’s guidelines.  The first question is what is your voting address?  For overseas citizens, it is usually the last place you lived at in the U.S. before moving overseas. You do not need to have any current ties with this address.  Your election office only uses your voting residence address to determine if you are eligible to vote in that jurisdiction and which ballot to send you. Your election office will not send any voting materials to this address.

Upcoming elections for federal office from FVAP.gov: The following states have elections for federal office in the next 90 days: S- State Primary; D-District Primary; R- State Runoff (if necessary). *Dates subject to change.

August 2026:
August 6ᵗʰ: Tennessee (S)
August 8ᵗʰ: Hawaii (S)
August 11ᵗʰ: Alabama CD 1,2,6 & 7 Special Primary, Connecticut (S), Minnesota (S), South Carolina U.S. Senate Special Republican Primary, Vermont (S), Wisconsin (S)
August 18ᵗʰ: Alaska (S), California CD 14 Special General, Florida (S), Wyoming (S)
August 25ᵗʰ: Georgia CD 13 Special Runoff, Oklahoma (R), South Carolina U.S. Senate Special Republican Primary Runoff

September 2026:
September 1ˢᵗ: Massachusetts (S)
September 8ᵗʰ: New Hampshire (S)
September 9ᵗʰ: Rhode Island (S)
September 15ᵗʰ: Delaware (S)

October 2026:  *No Federal Elections Scheduled

November 2026 – 90 Notice:
November 3ʳᵈ: General Election
November 3ʳᵈ: Alabama CD 1,2,6 & 7

In order to vote, you must register and request an absentee ballot to be emailed.  FVAP’s easy online assistant will walk you through your state-specific form. Once you complete the FPCA, print, sign, and send it to your election office. Most states accept the FPCA by email or fax while some require it by mail. Check your state-specific guidelines at FVAP.gov.

Once you receive your requested absentee ballot, vote and return it as soon as you get it. Remember to carefully follow the instructions, especially using a “security envelope” if required, and sign the package as indicated when returning it. To save time, send voted ballots electronically if allowed by state law. Voters can check if their state accepts completed absentee ballots by email, fax, or via an online portal at FVAP.gov/guide.

If your state requires your ballot to be mailed, contact your election official to see if your state will allow multiple individually sealed ballots addressed to the same election office to be sent in one courier package.  Many voters have had their mailed, correctly addressed ballots returned by the USPS, with a label “return to sender, can not forward”. Every vote is important and to have your ballot returned by the USPS is frustrating.  Someone didn’t allow you to vote.

DHL- Israel is offering a 20% discount on anything sent from Israel to America.  Not only do you receive a discount, but you will have peace of mind that your ballot was personally delivered.  .

Ballots are sent out 45 days before the election.  No worries, if your requested ballot has not arrived: complete the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) immediately. It works like a backup ballot. If your official absentee ballot arrives after sending in the FWAB, complete and send in the official ballot, too. Only one will be counted

To make sure the voted ballot is received by your state. Go to FVAP.gov, click on your state and then the “check the status of your voted ballot” button.

If you would like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program, or need help with the absentee voting process, please go to FVAP.gov, or email Andee Goldman at votingfromabroad@gmail.com.