by Adriana ruiz
Remember, U.S. embassies and consulates are not polling places. Same-day, in-person voting is not available outside the United States. Many states require voted ballots to reach local election officials by the time polls close on election day (November 5). U.S. citizens who want to participate in the 2024 U.S. elections from overseas should have already returned their absentee ballots to their local election officials.
If you registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot prior to your state’s registration deadline, but have not yet received your ballot, you can complete and return a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) and return it to your local election office. The FWAB is available at www.FVAP.gov. If your regular ballot arrives later, complete and return it as well. Your FWAB will only be counted if your regular ballot does not reach local election officials by your state’s deadline. Your vote will not be counted twice.
If you plan to drop your ballot off at the embassy or consulate to be returned to your local election office, we recommend you do so no later than October 4. Please ensure your ballot is addressed to your local election officials and is either placed in a postage-paid envelope or bears sufficient domestic U.S. postage. Ballots can be dropped off, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding these holidays).
If your state allows, you may be able to return your voted ballot to your local election office electronically. You can also consider returning your ballot via an express courier service at your own expense. Ballots sent via express courier do not receive standard postmarks, so voters using this method should confirm delivery on or before November 5 prior to payment and shipment. Check your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov for guidance.
If you have previously registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot but it has not yet arrived, some states allow voters to email or fax their voted, signed FWAB to local election officials. Review your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov carefully for guidance.
If using Italy’s postal system, be sure to include sufficient international postage and allow enough time for delivery. Ballots sent via regular international mail at this time are unlikely to reach local election officials by state ballot receipt deadlines.
Please help spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues that now is the time return your ballot if you are voting from overseas.
You can get in-person voting assistance from the embassy/consulate, and ballots can be dropped off, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding these holidays).
Please contact Italy’s Voting Assistance Officer at +39 06 46741 or at [email protected]. You can also contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) directly at [email protected].
Confirm your registration and ballot delivery online. Learn more at the FVAP website at www.FVAP.gov.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas or how to return your election materials, please contact your nearest embassy or consulate:
Via Vittorio Veneto, 121
+39 06-46741
Via Principe Amadeo, 2/10
+39 02-290-351
Lungarno Vespucci, 38
+39 055-266-951
Piazza della Repubblica
+39 081-583-8111
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
The General Election on November 5 is just around the corner!
Please review the important guidance below to ensure you register, request your ballot, and cast your vote on time.
Please review the important guidance below to ensure you register, request your ballot, and cast your vote on time.
Register and request your ballot by your state’s deadline. You can use FVAP’s easy online assistant at www.FVAP.gov/FPCA to walk you through each section of the form. After you finish filling out the FPCA, print it, sign it, and send it to your election office. Most states accept the FPCA by email or fax while some require it by mail. Check your state-specific guidelines at FVAP.gov.
Once you receive your requested absentee ballot, vote and return it as soon as you get it. Remember to carefully follow the instructions, especially if a “security envelope” is required, and sign the package as indicated when returning it.
To save time, send voted ballots electronically if allowed by state law. Voters can check if their state accepts completed absentee ballots by email, fax, or via an online portal at FVAP.gov/guide.
If a requested ballot has not arrived, use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) immediately at www.FVAP.gov/FWAB. It acts as a backup ballot. If your official state absentee ballot arrives after sending in the FWAB, complete and send in the official ballot, too. Only one will be counted.
To ensure your voted ballot is received by your state, go to FVAP.gov, click on your state and then the “check the status of your voted ballot” button.
To find your state’s election website for specific information on candidates, elections, contact information, and links to your local election offices, visit the FVAP.gov contact page. You can also reach out directly to your election office for status updates on your registration and absentee ballot.
Additional Information for non-UOCAVA voters: Uniformed service members, their families, and Department of Defense civilians who are currently stationed in the same location as their voting address may visit vote.gov to register to vote and request information from their local election office to vote locally.
For more information, please visit FVAP.gov or contact your local voting POC at: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; or [email protected].
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