U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador

How can I vote in U.S. Elections from outside the Unites States?

Registering to vote and submitting a ballot is fast, easy, and can be done from anywhere in the world!

Voting abroad for a U.S. election is not like voting in Ecuador. You cannot come to the Embassy or Consulate on election day to vote. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate are a ballot drop-off locations, not polling sites. 

Follow the steps below to vote abroad:

1. Register to vote with the state in which you last held residence. If you have never lived in the Unites States, there are some states that will allow you to register as long as you qualify: Never Resided in the U.S.
2. Receive and complete your ballot. How you receive your ballot depends on the state; some states accept digital ballots while others must be downloaded, printed and submitted by mail.
3. Return your ballot to the corresponding official by the required deadline.

You will find detailed information about each step on this website.

Step Three: Return Your Completed, Signed Ballot

Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically while others require a paper ballot.  If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through the U.S. Mission in Ecuador’s diplomatic pouch.  The diplomatic pouch provides free mail service from embassies and consulates to a U.S. sorting facility.  You will need to place your ballot in U.S. postage-paid return envelope provided by the FVAP in order to be delivered to the election authorities. Please check the Election Forms and Materials FVAP.gov website under “Send in your forms with these helpful tools” if you need a return envelope. The average transit time for diplomatic mail back to the United States is two to four weeks.

We are unable to accept envelopes with personal pre-paid postage and a U.S. return address.

Researching the Candidates and Issues – Online Resources

Go to the FVAP Helpful links page for helpful resources to aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain on-line. You can also read national and hometown newspapers on-line, or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov).  FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook (@DODFVAP), X (formerly Twitter) (@FVAP), and Instagram (@fvapgov).

Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.

If you have any further questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact us

For Bolivar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Pastaza, Pichincha, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios and Tungurahua contact the U.S. Embassy in Quito.

For Azuay, Cañar, El Oro, Galápagos, Guayas, Loja, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena and Zamora Chinchipe contact the U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil.

Your vote counts!