6. I need to return my FPCA or Ballot by mail. What are my options?
If you need to return your FPCA or ballot by mail, there are steps you can take to get it back to your Local Election Office by the deadline. The most common reason for overseas ballots to be rejected is arriving after the deadline – make sure your vote counts!
We recommend that you request your state send your blank ballot to you by email/online or fax so you’ll get it as soon as it’s ready. Then fill it out and return it as soon as you can. And if you have any concerns that you won’t get your ballot in time, you can vote using the Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot or FWAB). (For more information about using a Backup Ballot, see "What is the Backup Ballot and how do I use it?")
To return your FPCA or ballot by mail, these options are available:
- Local Postal System: If you use your area’s postal service, remember that you will need to add postage to the US. Even if you have a “Postage Paid” envelope, that is only for US Mail, such as US Military Mail and the US Diplomatic pouch.
- US Diplomatic Pouch: US citizens voting from abroad may access the diplomatic pouch at the US Embassy or Consulate to return FPCAs and ballots. Mailing is free if you use the US postage-paid mailing templates: #10 Envelope [PDF] or C4 Envelopes [PDF]. However, be aware that this method is very slow! It may take several weeks or more for your ballot to get back to the US. Be sure to contact the Embassy/Consulate well in advance, as many have extremely limited periods when they’ll accept ballots. Many will not accept ballots less than a month before an election.
- Courier: Finally, it's more expensive, but if regular mail or the diplomatic pouch is not available, you may want to use a courier service, such as DHL or FedEx or UPS. Discounts may be available -- ask us!
You must use the street address for your Local Election Office, couriers can’t deliver to a PO Box. Don’t request a signature; most offices won’t sign for a package. And get a dated slip in case you need to show that it was submitted on or before election day. (For this reason, you shouldn't order the service online as you may not get a dated slip.)
Finally, if other voters are sending ballots to the same election office, most states allow a single express mail envelope to contain multiple ballots as long as the ballots are in separate SEALED envelopes. (Think of the express mail envelope as a mailbox.)
Postmark Requirements:
Some states require that your mailed ballot must be received by Election Day (or even the day before). For those states, a postmark isn't required as the date received is the relevant deadline.
Other states allow ballots to be received after Election Day if the ballot has a timely postmark or other proof that it was placed in the mail on or before Election Day. We strongly recommend that you try to get your ballot back by Election Day and not rely on this extra time — ballots received after Election Day have been subject to court challenges. However, if your ballot may be arriving after Election Day, it is imperative that you obtain a postmark or other proof of the date of mailing. This applies whether you use the postal system, the diplomatic pouch (the Embassy or Consulate provides a date stamp), or a private courier service (request a date stamp).
Ballot Delivery by Another Person:
However you send in your ballot, remember that some states require that you (the voter) must be the one who places it in the mail or gives it to an authorized agent for the US Embassy/Consulate or otherwise delivers it to your Local Election Office.
For more information on your state’s rules for ballot handling, please see: NCSL: Who Can Collect and Return an Absentee Ballot Other Than the Voter.
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