U.S. Embassy in Norway

U.S. Citizen Voters 

It is easy to vote absentee while living in Norway.  U.S. citizens that want to participate in elections need to register first by completing and submitting the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).  Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each year to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.  The FPCA acts as both voter registration and ballot request.

 

Check Your State Voting Guidelines

Go to the Federal Voting Assistance’s website FVAP.gov to check your state’s requirements to register to vote, and submission requirements.

 

Key Voting Dates 

Review key voting dates for your state on the Federal voting Assistance Program website: Upcoming Events (fvap.gov)

 

Contact 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 their website at FVAP.gov, call 703-588-1584 (toll free 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 425-1584), or email (vote@fvap.gov).

 

Returning Your Voted Ballot

Vote and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it!  Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not.  Check your state guidelines at FVAP.gov.

If you requested your ballot but haven’t received it, contact your election office  to ask about the status of your ballot request.

If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, the United States Embassy in Oslo can ensure that your ballot is placed in the United States postal system. Place your ballot in a postage-paid return envelope or in an envelope bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage addressed to the relevant local election officials and drop it at the United States Embassy, Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo. U.S. postage may be purchased online and printed by your home/office printer at USPS website.

If you would like the Embassy to mail the ballot on your behalf, please drop off your postage-paid voting materials Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the main entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, located at Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo.  Embassy guards will accept the FPCA or ballot envelope.  Anyone dropping of a ballot envelope will need to present a valid identification and wait until the envelope has been scanned before leaving the Embassy.  Ballots must be placed in a postage paid return envelope or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage for the ballot to be delivered to the proper local election authorities.  Please note that it may take four to six weeks for mail to reach its destination if sent by the Embassy.

All overseas U.S. citizens are advised to follow the instructions from their own voting state and submit their forms and ballots accordingly.  Ballots will be received and forwarded whenever submitted but you may want to consider using a courier service if submitting your ballot close to or after the stated delivery time for pouch mail.  You can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense. 

 

Emergency Back-Up Ballot – The Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB)

For the general election, you should receive your ballot by early October.  If you did not receive your ballot in time to participate in the election, use the emergency back-up ballot, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Check your state’s election deadlines on FVAP.gov. Send it to your county election office. It works like a backup ballot.  If your official absentee ballot arrives after sending in the FWAB, fill out and send in the official ballot too. Only one will be counted.

 

Follow these simple steps to register to vote and request your ballot today!

Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)  and send it to your election office. Be sure to include your email address so that your election office can easily reach you in case there is a problem.

Your voting residence (the U.S. state or territory where you are registering to vote) is likely your legal residence. Here’s how to determine your voting residence.

Using the FPCA ensures that your state will send your ballot to you at least 45 days before the election — a protection not guaranteed when using other forms. It’s a good idea to send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move.

For the general election, you should receive your ballot by early October.

 

Researching the Candidates and Issues

Know your candidates and issues! 

Please see the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s FVAP links page for resources you can use to research candidates and issues. FVAP regularly sends information about election dates and deadlines through their Voting Alerts. Email vote@fvap.gov to subscribe or follow FVAP on Facebook or Twitter.

 

Online Resources.

Go to the FVAP 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 online.  You can also read national and hometown newspapers online 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), Twitter  (@FVAP), and Instagram  (@fvapgov).

 

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

If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact U.S. Embassy Oslo’s Voting Assistance Officer at VoteOslo@state.gov.