1. How do I use a VPN to access US websites that are blocked from my location?

If you tried to access your state’s voter information pages but received an error message, it may be that your state is “geo-blocking” web traffic from outside the US. These “firewalls,” which are intended to improve website security, inappropriately prevent US citizens who are outside the US from accessing critical voter information. While VFA actively reaches out to state administrators to remove these barriers, you can safely and legally access these website by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN works by routing your internet traffic invisibly through the VPN provider you choose to an "exit point" in another country. All VPN providers give you a choice of exit points in different countries. In this case, you’ll want to choose the US as your exit point in order to access these blocked pages.

VPNs aren't hard to use and you can easily turn them on and off. There are many providers to choose from and some are free. Generally speaking, it's best to use a VPN that's owned and operated from a country with strong data protection laws and that doesn't log your activity.

The easiest way to avoid your state's geo-blocking may be to use a web browser that includes a VPN, like Opera (for laptops or tablets) or ProtonVPN (for phones).

As an example, here are step-by-step instructions on how to install and use the Opera web browser on your laptop or tablet as a VPN:

1. Download the Opera web browser: https://www.opera.com. It should automatically detect if you’re using a Mac or PC. Next, run the file to install it on your computer.
2. After installing and launching the browser, click on the "settings" wheel on the left-side column (near the bottom).
3. In the Settings window, click on the "Advanced" down-arrow, then "Features." "VPN" will show at the top of the list. Click the slider button to enable VPN.
4. When VPN is enabled, you’ll see a small button appear in your search bar. Clicking that will open a new window where you can select the virtual location of your VPN. Choose “Americas” from the dropdown list.

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