Travel.State.Gov >
Returning Your Absentee Ballot from Overseas
Location: Worldwide
Event: For U.S. citizens who want to participate in the 2024 U.S. elections from overseas, now is the time to submit your voted ballot.
Many states require voted ballots to reach local election officials by the time polls close on election day (November 5, 2024).
Ballots can be dropped off at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to be returned to your local election office. 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. Transit time back to local election offices can take up to 20 days. We recommend that you return your ballot as soon as possible.
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. Voters using this method should confirm delivery will occur on or before November 5 prior to payment and shipment.
U.S. embassies and consulates are not polling places. Check your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov for guidance.
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, and can be returned using the same methods as mentioned above. 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.
