Request a Ballot
Even if you were registered to vote in the US, to vote when living or serving overseas, you’ll need to complete and return one of the following forms by October 27, 2023.
Military & Overseas Voting
If you’re a United States citizen living overseas as a civilian or in the military, there are several ways you to request, receive, and return your ballot.
November 7, 2023 ABSENT UNIFORMED-SERVICE AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ELIGIBLE TO USE THE FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT (FWAB)
This is an official notice of the General and Special Elections to be conducted in the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 7, 2023. If you are an absent military or overseas citizen eligible to vote in state and local elections, you may register to vote and submit an absentee ballot application electronically for a specific election or any elections up through the next year using the Department of Elections voter registration portal. Please note that a driver’s license or identification card issued by the Virginia DMV is required to complete the process paperlessly. If you do not have a DMV-issued ID, you may also apply by using the federal postcard application (FPCA), available at www.fvap.gov. You can submit your FPCA by scanned email attachment to info@elections.virginia.gov or via fax to (804) 371-0194. Detailed instructions are provided in the Virginia Voting Assistance Guide. FPCA’s are valid for all elections in the calendar year in which they are submitted and must be renewed annually.If you do not receive your state ballot in time, you may vote using a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at www.fvap.gov. You can identify all of the state, local offices and, if applicable, ballot measures that, as of this date, are expected to be on the ballot by visiting the Candidate Lists and visit ELECT’s Citizen Portal to view your voter registration status.
Receive Your Ballot
45 days before November general elections, we’ll begin sending you a blank ballot either electronically or via mail at the address you provided.
If you completed all required steps but have not received your ballot 30 days before an election, submit a completed Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
Complete and Send in Your Ballot
Overseas voters have a number of options for returning completed ballots:
Local Mail
If you have a reliable mail service to the United States, put your ballot in the mail with appropriate international postage.
U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Pouch
You or another person can drop off your ballot request (FPCA) or completed ballot at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for return to the United States. It must be addressed to your local election officials and have sufficient U.S. postage, or be in a postage-paid envelope. A postage-paid envelope is available on the FVAP website. Contact the U.S. embassy voting assistance officer or visit the embassy’s website for specific instructions.