Americans can vote. Wherever they are.
To vote absentee in a U.S. election, on the day of the election you must:
- be a U.S. citizen
- be 18 years old
- be absent from your voting residence
How to Vote Absentee
There are three steps to vote absentee in an election:
| Step | What | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) – | January of each year |
| 2 | Receive your absentee ballot from your state election office – | 45-30 calendar days before the election |
| 3a & 3b | Return your state absentee ballot to your state;
If you do not receive your state absentee ballot, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) – |
As soon as you receive it |
In order to vote, all overseas U.S. citizens need to complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (PDF 228 KB). Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each year to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter. Submitting the FPCA allows you to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (PDF 404 KB) as a backup ballot, if you do not receive your state’s ballot 30 days before the election. Check your state’s voter registration information for further details, including deadlines, as each state’s rules and procedures are different.
Still have questions about voting from overseas? Here’s an instructional PowerPoint (PDF 1.81 MB). You can learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.
Voting Assistance
You can always receive voting assistance by calling us at +852 2841 2211 or emailing ACSHK@state.gov with your voting questions. The Consulate can also accept completed voting applications, forms, and ballots for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch. During election season, you do not need an appointment to drop off your ballot at the Consulate. If you would like to drop off a completed ballot, please come to the Consulate between 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. You may drop off the ballot at an ACS window upstairs if you have questions, or you may drop your ballot in the ballot box just before security.
Place your ballots in postage-paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage, and address them to the relevant local election officials. You can access a template to print out postage pre-paid envelopes here. We will not accept ballots unless they are sealed and in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. postage. The ballot must be also be signed and sealed. Please bring your U.S. passport for entry. The Consulate’s address is 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact Hong Kong’s Voting Assistance Officer via email (acshk@state.gov) or via telephone (2841-2211) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except public holidays.
