Overview
The one-stop shop for all voting-related issues is the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (FVAP). It has a wealth of information about absentee voting, including the downloadable absentee ballot applications, state-specific instructions for completing the form, links to state and local voting officials, and a downloadable emergency ballot.
Can I vote absentee?
You can vote absentee in any election for Federal office if you are a U.S. citizen 18 years or older and are residing outside of the United States. Voting requirements vary amongst states for state and local elected offices. If you would like to vote while abroad, you should check your state’s voter registration deadlines, absentee ballot request deadlines, and other guidance on the FVAP website as early as possible, but not later than 90 days in advance of the election in which you would like to vote.
If I do not maintain a legal residence in the U.S., what is my "legal state of residence"?
Your “legal state of residence” for voting purposes is the state or territory where you last resided immediately prior to your departure from the United States. This applies even though you may not have property or other ties in your last state of residence and your intent to return to that state may be uncertain.
When completing section 7 of the Voter Registration form (Pdf – 328Kb) and Absentee Ballot (Pdf – 356Kb) request form, be sure to enter the entire mailing address of your last residence to determine your proper voting jurisdiction.
Some states allow children of U.S. citizens residing overseas who are U.S. citizens but who have never resided in the U.S. to claim one of their parent’s legal state of residence as their own.
How do I register to vote, or apply for an absentee ballot?
You may register to vote and request an absentee ballot on the FVAP website. Both tasks can be accomplished by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (Pdf – 328 Kb). Your FPCA must be completed, printed, signed, dated and mailed to the listed election official in your U.S. state of residence. Some states may allow you to submit the form electronically.
What if I have not received by absentee ballot one month before the election?
- Contact your local election official to determine the status of your ballot. Contact information is available at FVAP website.
- If you have requested an absentee ballot from your State but have not received it, you can vote by using the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (Pdf – 356Kb). You may submit the FWAB at any time after you submit your Federal Post Card Application. All FWABs must be completed, printed, signed, dated, and submitted to your local election official.
- If you later receive your regular absentee ballot, complete and return it regardless of when you receive it. Your local election official will ensure that only one of the ballots is counted. Check out your state’s instructions to determine your state specific instructions, witness requirements for voted ballots, deadlines, and mailing addresses.
May I mail my Federal Post Card Application or absentee ballot back to the U.S. through the U.S. Embassy?
If you are currently in Costa Rica, you can return your completed applications and ballots to the United States through the diplomatic pouch of the U.S. Embassy in San Jose. Please note some states allow ballots to be faxed instead of mailed.
Delivery Options:
- Drop off: There is a secure box inside the U.S. Embassy’s main entrance where you may drop off your election-related materials in person. Please ensure the envelopes are correctly addressed and has sufficient U.S. postage. The Embassy cannot provide U.S. postage. Alternatively, you can download and print a U.S. postage-paid envelope from the FVAP website. You may drop off ballots on behalf of other eligible U.S. citizen voters.
- Mail: If you would like to mail your FPCA or completed ballot to the U.S. Embassy, we recommend using the courier service Correos de Costa Rica to the following address:
Embajada USA
Consular Section
Apdo. Postal 920-1200
Pavas 10109
This mail-in option requires two envelopes. Address the first envelope to the U.S. Embassy at the mailing above and address the second envelope to your local election office with the enclosed FPCA or ballot inside. The second envelope with your ballot needs to be postage-paid or have sufficient U.S. postage to be delivered to your local election office. If you do not provide a second envelope or sufficient postage, your ballot will not be forwarded onward from the U.S. Embassy. Seal the second envelope, place it inside the first envelope, and mail the package to the U.S. Embassy. The diplomatic post office will post mark the ballot upon arrival and send to the nearest sorting facility in the United States.
For individuals residing outside the United States, you should send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move. We recommend that you send in an FPCA at least 90 days before the election in which you want to vote, but even as deadlines approach, we always encourage you to submit as state laws vary and you may qualify for a ballot containing only federal offices.
For all additional questions related to voting, please visit the FVAP website and review the FVAP FAQs page.