If you are an overseas civilian voter and unable to attend your polling place in person on election day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee electors may obtain an absentee ballot by:
- Print and complete any other official absentee ballot application form and send it to your County Election Office to request an absentee ballot.
- Only you or an adult member of your immediate family may submit your application for an absentee ballot.
- If you are home on election day and have not voted by absentee ballot, you may, if registered, appear at your election district polling place and vote.
- Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by the county board prior to election day.
Special Write-In Absentee Ballots
Overseas civilian voters who are outside the United States on election day might receive a special write-in absentee ballot. Election officials use write-in ballots when they are required by law to provide absentee ballots to absentee voters, but official absentee ballots have not yet been printed.
The special write-in ballot includes all of the offices and questions that will appear on the official ballots for the election district, but not the names of the candidates for the offices. Instead, elections officials will provide a separate list of candidates who have filed to appear on the official ballot and who have not withdrawn or had their names removed from the ballot by a court.
A special write-in absentee ballot returned to the county board of elections will be handled and counted the same way as an absentee ballot cast on an official absentee ballot.
Learn more about voting by absentee ballot.
Federal Voting Assistance Program
If you will be out of the country and wish to vote, the Federal Voting Assistance Program will guide you through the process.
