Upcoming Elections
Visit the FVAP website to find a complete schedule of upcoming state and federal elections.
Dropping your ballot off at the U.S. Embassy
U.S. Embassy Belmopan accepts in-person drop-off of absentee ballots Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Bring completed, sealed, and stamped voting materials to our Embassy’s back entrance on Floriana Avenue (across from the British High Commission).
You may also mail your ballot in its sealed envelope to:
U.S. Embassy Belmopan
American Citizens Services
4 Floral Park Road
Belmopan, Belize
In order to mail election-related materials to the United States, you will need two envelopes. Address the first envelope to the U.S. Embassy at the mailing address above. Address the second envelope to your local state election office and enclose your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) or ballot inside. The second (internal) envelope needs to be postage-paid or have sufficient U.S. postage affixed to be delivered to your local election office from the U.S. sorting facility where it will be mailed. Seal the second envelope, place it inside the first envelope, and mail the package to the U.S. Embassy. Transit time from Belize to the United States is approximately four weeks. We advise all overseas U.S. citizens to submit their forms and ballots accordingly.
General Information
Absentee Voting Basics
Absentee voting is a simple two-step process. Every year, send a completed FPCA to your local election officials, who confirm your eligibility to vote and put your name on a list to receive absentee ballots for any elections held that calendar year. You then receive a blank absentee ballot electronically or by mail. You can then complete the ballot and return it before your state’s deadline.
Return your FPCA by mail or check your state-specific guidance on whether there is an option to return your FPCA by fax or email.
Receiving your Blank Absentee Ballot
Forty-five days before the November general elections, your state will either send your blank ballot to you electronically or mail it to the address you provided on your FPCA. Ballots are generally mailed out only 30 days before primary, special, and run-off elections. Depending on your state and your status abroad, you might receive absentee ballots for all elections or abbreviated ballots for elections for federal offices only.
Using an Emergency Write-In Ballot
If you have not received your ballot 30 days before an election, you should complete and submit a FWAB . Write in the candidates of your choice, print it, sign it, and send it to your local election office. If your regular absentee ballot arrives later, fill it out and send it back too. Your FWAB will be counted only if your regular ballot does not reach your local election officials by your state’s deadline. Following this procedure will not invalidate your vote or result in two votes being cast.
Voting and Returning Your Ballot
Complete your ballot carefully and legibly and return it to your local election officials before your state’s ballot receipt deadline. Send it back as early as possible.
Overseas voters have several options for returning completed ballots:
- Local mail– If you have access to reliable mail service to the United States, you may choose to put your ballot in the local mail with appropriate international postage.
- U.S. Embassy Pouch/APO/FPO– You may mail your ballot request or voted ballot to the U.S. Embassy for return to the United States. It must be addressed to your local election officials and have sufficient postage or be in a postage-paid envelope. A postage-paid envelope is available on the FVAP website .
- Fax, Email, or Internet – Several states now allow the electronic return of voted ballots. Consult the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Voting Assistance Guide for electronic transmission options for your state.
- Express Courier Service– If time is short or local mail is unreliable, you may use professional courier services such as FedEx or DHL to return your registration or ballot.
Assistance:
Voting Assistance Officers (VAO) are here to answer all your voting questions as well as provide voting forms, materials, and guidance. If you have questions, please write to: VoteBelmopan@state.gov
Contacting the Federal Voting Assistance Program:
If you would like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with the absentee voting process, please visit https://www.fvap.gov, call +1-800-438-8683, or email vote@fvap.gov.
Election updates:
To learn more about election updates in your state, please go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program guide. You can download a U.S. postage-paid envelope for your ballot.
Voting Eligibility
Almost all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who reside outside the United States are eligible to vote absentee for candidates for federal offices in U.S. primary and general elections. In addition, some states allow U.S. citizens abroad to vote for candidates for state and local offices, as well as for state and local referendums. For information regarding your specific state, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Voting Assistance Guide or the Overseas Vote Foundation website . The Overseas Vote Foundation is a non-partisan voter advocacy organization.
For voting purposes, your state of legal residence is generally the state where you resided immediately before leaving the United States, even if you no longer own or rent property or intend to return there in the future. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia specifically allow U.S. citizens who have never resided in the United States to register where a parent would be eligible to vote. Direct your questions about eligibility to your local election office.
Verifying Your Registration
Most states now have websites where you can verify your registration. If you are unsure of your voter registration status, or want to confirm that local officials have received and approved your registration, check the FVAP website for a directory of state voter registration verification websites. You can also write, email, or call your local election office directly.
Being an Educated Voter
Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues you care about. Subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via X (@FVAP), Facebook (@fvapgov), and Instagram (@fvapgov).
Voting and Taxes
Voting for candidates for federal offices does not affect your federal or state tax liability. Voting for candidates for state or local offices could affect your state tax liability. Consult legal counsel if you have questions.