Embassy of the United States Harare, Zimbabwe

U.S. Citizens overseas are guaranteed the right to vote in federal elections in the United States Absentee Voting General Information and Forms

• The Federal Voting Assistance Program Webiste
• Verify your voter registration status
• Electronic Voting Options by State
• Which State? 
• What about Taxes? 
• The Absentee Voting Process 
• Notarizing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
• Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (PDF 134 KB)

Please note that you cannot simply log on to a website and vote at the last minute. Almost all states require voters to physically send in registration documents, receive paper ballots by return post, and mail in their completed ballots. Adequate preparation is key. Most States and Territories allow for some type of electronic transmission of absentee voting materials for Uniformed Services Members and Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA) citizens. The provisions and guidelines for transmitting election materials electronically are identified in each state and territory section of the Voting Assistance Guide (the Guide is available in hardcopy format or online).

You cannot register to vote or vote at the Embassy or Consulates. However, we do supply the form necessary to request an absentee ballot from your last state of residence. This site will guide you on how to download, fill in and send the form to the appropriate address in your state.

We strongly encourage you to register to vote and/or request absentee ballots well in advance of elections to ensure that you will receive all ballots for which you are eligible. Should questions or problems occur, you would still be able to address them in time to vote.

Questions on Absentee Voting?

For quick answers regarding absentee voting, consult the Voting FAQ!

Which State?

The issue of voting residence is complex. Even in states where laws clearly define criteria for determining a person's voting residence, the final determination is generally up to each local election official. The UOCAVA allows citizens outside the United States (not affiliated with the Uniformed Services) to 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 voter maintains no residence in the state or territory, and the intent to return to that state or territory may not be certain.

For members of the Uniformed Services and their family members, in most states the legal voting residence is defined as where they have, or have had, physical presence at the location and, the intent to remain or return. If a citizen is uncertain about his or her current legal voting residence, the citizen should examine his or her connections or ties to the state or territory in question and consult with legal counsel.

What is my legal residence? For more detailed residency guidelines, first click here and click on the state you think you might register in. Look for "Voting Guidelines" in the Resources section on the right side of the individual state's page.

What About Taxes?

Exercising your right to vote in elections for Federal offices only does not affect the determination of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law. Voting in an election for Federal office only may not be used as the sole basis to determine residency for the purposes of imposing state and local taxes.

If you claim a particular state as your residence and have other ties with that state in addition to voting then you may be liable for state and local taxation, depending upon that particular state law. Consult your legal counsel for specific questions.

The Absentee Voting Process 

• You complete and mail a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Get the form here;
• For state-by-state absentee voting information, including the necessary mailing address, please select your state of residence from this map.
• A Local Election Official in your state of residence approves your request to register/vote, or asks you for more information;
• Once approved, a Local Election Official in your state of residence mails you an absentee ballot;
• You complete the ballot and notarize it free at the Embassy or a Consulate if needed, and mail it back to your state of residence. You can send the FPCA to the U.S. for free through the Embassy or a Consulate if the envelope indicates that postage has been pre-paid. Mailing time to the U.S. is about 10 days, subject to factors in the postal system beyond our control.

Notarizing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

If your state requires that you take an oath to the contents of the FPCA, please visit the American Citizen Services section at the Embassy along with your passport. All notarization services on voting materials are performed free of charge, but must be done in person.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

Overseas voters may be eligible to use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to vote for federal offices (President/Vice President, Senator, and Representative).  The FWAB may be used only for general elections and is a backup for voters who expect to be able to use the regular absentee ballot from their state or territory but who did not receive that ballot in time to vote and return it.

The FWAB must be received by the local election official no later than the deadline for receipt of regular absentee ballots under state law. The FWAB is to be used to assist those voters who would be disenfranchised through no fault of their own, and is not designed as a replacement for the regular state ballot. It is valid only when the state ballot has been requested.

Request an FWAB in writing.  An online version of the FWAB is available here. The online version must be completed, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your Local Election Official.

Be sure to include your full name, Zimbabwe mailing address and U.S. state of residence with your FAXed or written request.  U.S. Military and Merchant Marine members, their spouses and dependents, and DOD civilian U.S. government employees overseas, their spouses and dependents, should obtain their FPCA through their unit or office Voting Assistance Officer.

More information is available online at www.fvap.gov