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Overseas Vote - Everything You Need to Vote From Abroad

As a U.S. citizen, your right to vote moves with you wherever you are in the world

If you are traveling, working, studying or living abroad you can vote as an overseas voter

It makes no difference if you are temporarily or indefinitely abroad - you can vote as an overseas voter

Overseas and military voters have federal voting rights, which offer special accommodations

Overseas Voting Myths

Myth #1 - Previous Voting Record

I heard that US overseas voters must have voted before in the US to later vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

To register and request your overseas ballot, there is no previous voting requirement. You can even be a first-time voter!

Learn more.
Myth #2 - Fixed Overseas Address

Somehow I thought overseas voters had to have a "permanent" overseas address to vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

You can vote from outside of the US whether you're abroad temporarily or permanently.

Learn more.
Myth #3 - Own Property or Have Current Address

I assumed that to vote from abroad, overseas voters must also have a current address or own property in the US.

Here's the TRUTH:

There is no requirement to own property or have a current address in the US to vote from abroad.

Learn more.
Myth #4 - Beware of Taxes

Someone said that if you vote from abroad you will be reported to your state tax office and get a tax bill.

Here's the TRUTH:

Voting in federal elections cannot be a basis for a state to assert tax liability on its overseas voters.

Learn more.
Myth #5 - Put Ballot in US Mail

I thought I could give my overseas absentee ballot to a visiting friend to drop it in the USPS mail system for delivery.

Here's the TRUTH:

No! Overseas ballots must start their postal return and be postmarked from outside of the US.

Learn more.
Myth #6 - Notarization Requirement

I read something about having to notarize my ballot or signature...

Here's the TRUTH:

No! Notarization is not required in any state or territory.

Learn more.
Myth #7 - Choose the State I Vote In from Abroad

I assume I can choose which state I vote in when I vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

Sorry, it's not a choice. You vote in the state where you last lived before moving abroad.

Learn more.
Myth #8 - My Overseas Ballot Won't Be Counted

I heard that overseas and military ballots aren't actually counted.

Here's the TRUTH:

Phooey on that! It is illegal to not count and include all ballots received in order to certify the election.

Learn more.

Overseas Voting Myths

Myth #1 - Previous Voting Record

I heard that US overseas voters must have voted before in the US to later vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

To register and request your overseas ballot, there is no previous voting requirement. You can even be a first-time voter!

Learn more.
Myth #2 - Fixed Overseas Address

Somehow I thought overseas voters had to have a "permanent" overseas address to vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

You can vote from outside of the US whether you're abroad temporarily or permanently.

Learn more.
Myth #3 - Own Property or Have Current Address

I assumed that to vote from abroad, overseas voters must also have a current address or own property in the US.

Here's the TRUTH:

There is no requirement to own property or have a current address in the US to vote from abroad.

Learn more.
Myth #4 - Beware of Taxes

Someone said that if you vote from abroad you will be reported to your state tax office and get a tax bill.

Here's the TRUTH:

Voting in federal elections cannot be a basis for a state to assert tax liability on its overseas voters.

Learn more.
Myth #5 - Put Ballot in US Mail

I thought I could give my overseas absentee ballot to a visiting friend to drop it in the USPS mail system for delivery.

Here's the TRUTH:

No! Overseas ballots must start their postal return and be postmarked from outside of the US.

Learn more.
Myth #6 - Notarization Requirement

I read something about having to notarize my ballot or signature...

Here's the TRUTH:

No! Notarization is not required in any state or territory.

Learn more.
Myth #7 - Choose the State I Vote In from Abroad

I assume I can choose which state I vote in when I vote from abroad.

Here's the TRUTH:

Sorry, it's not a choice. You vote in the state where you last lived before moving abroad.

Learn more.
Myth #8 - My Overseas Ballot Won't Be Counted

I heard that overseas and military ballots aren't actually counted.

Here's the TRUTH:

Phooey on that! It is illegal to not count and include all ballots received in order to certify the election.

Learn more.

I have a question about overseas voting!

Submit your question and get a personal answer

For immediate answers, see our comprehensive overseas voting FAQ library

Go to the Voter Help Desk - our agents are ready to answer your questions

Study Abroad and Vote

If you are studying abroad during an election, you can vote from abroad.

You can even send in your overseas voter registration and ballot request form before you leave for school.

See our Study Abroad and VOTE! Toolkit

Blog

Opinion: We Bring America With Us

There is a persistent misconception that Americans who live abroad somehow leave America behind. Some may, but most of us do not. We bring America with us. You cannot wash your country off your skin. Your values, your civic identity, your sense of responsibility to your democracy travel with you. We are Americans wherever we go.

For decades, Americans abroad have been welcomed around the world as exactly who we are. We do not assume other identities; we represent our country simply by living our lives. In doing so, we form a quiet, global network of American presence—visible, engaged, and connected. This worldwide community is not a liability to the United States. It is an extraordinary asset.

And it costs the United States nothing.

hand holding US passport in front of view of blurred red-roofed buildings

Hear It From A Vet: My Experience Voting as a Military and Overseas Voter

When I cast my very first absentee ballot in the 1996 elections while stationed in North Carolina, and again in the midterm elections of 1998 from California, these actions reminded me that I was also a stakeholder in our democracy. I wasn’t simply fixing generators for our government—I was voluntarily participating in the selection of the people who ran it.

I have now been a UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) voter for a combined seventeen years – four as a service member, and thirteen as a civilian veteran residing outside the United States.

Simple icon of documents and words, Guest Blog

Overseas and Military Voters Rely on Local Election Officials for Timely Ballot Receipt

Timely ballot request by overseas and military voters, coupled with timely ballot delivery on the part of the local election officials, and extended ballot receipt deadline for ballots postmarked by the deadline is the formula that will assure that voters have time to vote, return their ballots and have them counted.

Overseas and military voters have every right to ask that they be given the opportunity to cast ballots in federal, state, and local elections and that those ballots should be counted, no matter where the service of our country has taken them.

Visit Blog

Overseas Voting Research and Resources

"How to Vote" as a Voter Abroad

Create My Overseas Voter Journey Map

FAQ: Top Questions on Overseas Voting

Everything you need to know about voting from abroad

Learn more about US overseas voting

Read our Overseas Voting Explainer

Improving US overseas and military voting

Examine our overseas voting reform agenda

Overseas Vote has a 20 year history

Learn more about Overseas Vote