U.S. Citizens overseas are guaranteed the right to vote in federal elections in the United States.

Please note that you cannot simply log on to a website and vote at the last minute. Almost all states require voters to physically send in registration documents, receive paper ballots by return post, and mail in their completed ballots. Adequate preparation is key. Most States and Territories allow for some type of electronic transmission of absentee voting materials for Uniformed Services Members and Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA) citizens. The provisions and guidelines for transmitting election materials electronically are identified in each state and territory section of the Voting Assistance Guide (the Guide is available in hardcopy format or online).

You cannot register to vote or vote at the Embassy or Consulates. However, we do supply the form necessary to request an absentee ballot from your last state of residence. This site will guide you on how to download, fill in and send the form to the appropriate address in your state.

2008 Election Year Update

All American citizens living abroad are reminded that 2008 is a general and presidential election year in the United States. Overseas citizens are eligible to participate in presidential and state primary elections, run-off elections and special elections that occur throughout the year, as well as the general elections in November 2008. Deadlines for Registration and Absentee Ballot Requests are rapidly approaching! Please click here for the latest information.

We strongly encourage you to register to vote and/or request absentee ballots well in advance of the presidential and state elections to ensure that you will receive all ballots for which you are eligible. Should questions or problems occur, you would still be able to address them in time to vote in the 2008 elections.

Public Voting Assistance Workshop on March 14, 2008

The U.S. Embassy will host a Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Voting Assistance Workshop for American citizens living in Japan that are interested in helping fellow citizens with the voting process. The workshop is an interactive, hands-on training session with the participants asking questions and making comments as the workshop progresses. The workshop's goal is to provide critical information, resources and tools for anyone who wishes to act as a voting assistance officer overseas. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please RSVP to VoteTokyo@state.gov with the following information:

Full Name
Citizenship
Passport Number

Please note that space is limited.

We encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible. Additional details will be sent to you by e-mail after you RSVP.


Questions on Absentee Voting?

For quick answers regarding absentee voting, consult the Voting FAQ!

The issue of voting residence is complex. Even in states where laws clearly define criteria for determining a person's voting residence, the final determination is generally up to each local election official. The UOCAVA allows citizens outside the United States (not affiliated with the Uniformed Services) to vote in the state or territory where they last resided immediately prior to departing the United States, even if many years have elapsed, and the voter maintains no residence in the state or territory, and the intent to return to that state or territory may not be certain.

For members of the Uniformed Services and their family members, in most states the legal voting residence is defined as where they have, or have had, physical presence at the location and, the intent to remain or return. If a citizen is uncertain about his or her current legal voting residence, the citizen should examine his or her connections or ties to the state or territory in question and consult with legal counsel.


What is my legal residence? Click here for more detailed residency guidelines (see specifically the OVERSEAS CITIZENS section.)

I need to know my county in my home state. How do I find it? Click here for county information.



Exercising your right to vote in elections for Federal offices only does not affect the determination of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law. Voting in an election for Federal office only may not be used as the sole basis to determine residency for the purposes of imposing state and local taxes.

If you claim a particular state as your residence and have other ties with that state in addition to voting then you may be liable for state and local taxation, depending upon that particular state law. Consult your legal counsel for specific questions.

You can learn more about U.S. Federal Tax questions here.

  You complete and mail a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Get the form here;

  For state-by-state absentee voting information, including the necessary mailing address, please select your state of residence from this list.

  A Local Election Official in your state of residence approves your request to register/vote, or asks you for more information;

  Once approved, a Local Election Official in your state of residence mails you an absentee ballot;

  You complete the ballot, notarize it free at the Embassy or a Consulate if needed, and mail it back to your state of residence. You can send the FPCA to the U.S. for free through the Embassy or a Consulate if the envelope indicates that postage has been pre-paid. Mailing time to the U.S. is about 10 days, subject to factors in the postal system beyond our control. You can also mail it directly to the U.S. using the Japanese postage system by placing the appropriate airmail stamp on it.

If your state requires that you take an oath to the contents of the FPCA, please visit the American Citizen Services section at the Embassy or one of our Consulates along with your passport. All notarization services on voting materials are performed free of charge. Notarials must be done in person.

Follow this link for our opening hours and directions for our offices nationwide.



Overseas voters may be eligible to use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to vote for federal offices (President/Vice President, Senator, and Representative).

The FWAB may be used only for general elections and is a backup for voters who expect to be able to use the regular absentee ballot from their state or territory but who did not receive that ballot in time to vote and return it.

The FWAB must be received by the local election official no later than the deadline for receipt of regular absentee ballots under state law. The FWAB is to be used to assist those voters who would be disenfranchised through no fault of their own, and is not designed as a replacement for the regular state ballot. It is valid only when the state ballot has been requested.

Request an FWAB in writing. Follow this link for contact information for our offices nationwide. An online version of the FWAB is available here, The online version must be completed, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your Local Election Official.

Be sure to include your full name, Japanese mailing address and U.S. state of residence with your FAXed or written request. You must also specify a state of residence in the U.S.

U.S. Military and Merchant Marine members, their spouses and dependents, and DOD civilian U.S. government employees overseas, their spouses and dependents, should obtain their FPCA through their unit or office Voting Assistance Officer.




More information is available online at www.fvap.gov