Completing and Returning Absentee Ballots

Absentee ballots already delivered to overseas voters:  Every U.S. citizen who requested an absentee ballot and selected the fax or email delivery option should have received it by now.  Please cast your vote and take steps to return your completed ballot promptly so that your vote will count.  See instructions below.

Returning your ballot by mail:  Place your completed ballot in a U.S. postage-paid envelope containing the address of your local election officials.  Place the completed ballot in a sealed envelope and take it to the U.S. Embassy in London.  We will send it back to the U.S. for you without the need to pay international postage.  If it’s easier for you to use the U.K. postal system, be sure to affix sufficient international postage, and allow adequate time for international mail delivery.  If time is tight, you may want to use a private courier service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, or DHL) to meet your state's ballot receipt deadline.

U.S. citizens can submit their completed ballots to the Embassy’s Consular Section between the hours of 08:00 and 17:00, Monday through Friday, with the exception of British and U.S. holidays.  No appointment is necessary.  Please bring your ballot in a sealed envelope, and your U.S. passport.  Your ballot will be sent to the United States via pouch, which takes approximately 10 working days. 

Returning your ballot by email, fax, or upload:  Some states allow these options, but may also require you to mail in the signed paper ballot.  To find out more about your state’s specific requirements, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.FVAP.gov.

Haven’t received your ballot yet?  Use the emergency write-in ballot:  U.S. citizens who requested an absentee ballot but haven’t received it should go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot.  Follow the above guidance for returning your ballot.  If you later receive your regular absentee ballot, vote and return it immediately.  Local election officials will count just one ballot per voter, and will use the regular ballot if received by your state’s ballot receipt deadline.

Forgot to register or request an absentee ballot?  Act immediately!  There are three options:

Option #1:  Register and request a ballot today using the Federal Post Card Application form at www.FVAP.gov.  Select the electronic ballot delivery option, include your email address (and fax number, if applicable) and send it to local election officials in your state.  Almost every state lets you submit a ballot by email or fax.  Once your application is processed they will send you your ballot via fax or email depending on your state.  Vote as soon as you receive the blank ballot.  Registration deadlines vary and some are as early as October 7, so check your state’s requirements carefully.

Option#2:  Follow the instructions in Option #1, but also complete and send in a Federal Write-in Ballot at the same time to make sure your vote is counted.  This option may be the best one for first-time voters if your state requires you to submit your Federal Post Card Application by mail.  Vote and submit your regular absentee ballot if/when it arrives.  Local election officials will count just one ballot per voter, and will use the regular ballot if it's received by the ballot receipt deadline.

Option #3:  Voters from the following states can use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot as a combined voter registration form, absentee ballot request, and absentee ballot:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.  (NOTE: This form must reach your local election officials by your state's absentee ballot request deadline or voter registration deadline, whichever is first.)

Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by mail:  Follow the guidance above for returning your ballot by mail.

Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by email or fax:  The following states allow voters to email or fax their signed, voted Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots back to local election officials:  Arizona, California (fax only), Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.  (NOTE:  see instructions at www.FVAP.gov for faxing or emailing your voted ballot.)

Have Questions?  Please contact London’s Voting Assistance Officer at 0207-499-9000, or at Londonvote@state.gov

Confirm your registration and ballot delivery online:  Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website at www.FVAP.gov.