When we moved abroad to Amsterdam, I foolishly assumed that it would be easy to disconnect from the partisan chaos of American politics.
We’ll be thousands of miles away from the States, I’d reasoned, so we’ll be able to avoid the stress of news from home while we cycle around the Netherlands eating stroopwafels, exploring windmills, and distracting ourselves with other Dutch delights instead of keeping up with U.S. news.
If you’re reading this article, chances are that you’re an American living abroad, too—so you know that initial assumption was incredibly (almost laughably) wrong.
Unfortunately, it seems that the stress of U.S. politics simply cannot be escaped no matter where you go… especially in the months leading up to a major election.
Expats are still constantly exposed to what’s going on back home. We see the policies being proposed, the rights being violated, the violence and vitriol being spread. The only difference is that now we’re physically removed from what’s happening—which you’d think would offer some peace of mind, but instead, leaves us feeling all the more helpless. We’re left to wonder: How can we possibly make an impact on all the injustice we’re witnessing from so far beyond America’s borders?
But here’s the thing: our votes are just as powerful from overseas as they were when we lived in the U.S. In fact, they may be even more crucial in shaping the future of the country. With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, this is our opportunity to make our voices heard, no matter where in the world we’re living.
Voting from abroad is simpler than you might think. Thanks to mail-in absentee ballots, the process is easier than ever, ensuring that our participation in this critical election is both straightforward and accessible.
Let's walk through exactly how to vote as an American living abroad in three simple steps.
The following steps are assuming you’re registered to vote. Not sure whether you are or not? You can check your voter registration status here.
Step 1: Request your overseas ballot
Simply visit the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad at votersabroad.org to submit a special federal form for overseas voters.
Completing this super-simple form only took my partner and I each about five minutes. We just had to provide basic info like our name, email address, phone number, etc. as well as a social security number and the address in the state we most recently lived in before moving abroad.
(Note: The form made it clear that we could use our most recent U.S. address to register even if we no longer owned property or had other ties to that state; our intent to return to that state was uncertain; or our previous address is no longer a recognized residential address.)
Once we submitted the form, the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad automatically completed our Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) using the information we provided and automatically sent that completed form as an attachment in an email to an appropriate election official in the state where we were registered to vote, CCing us on the message.
Four hours later, we received an email response from said election official, confirming receipt of the application and letting us know we’d receive our official ballot via encrypted email within 48 hours.
Step 2: Access your ballot via encrypted email
As promised, we each received an encrypted email with password-protected access to a secure message, which contained our (also password-protected) absentee ballot and voter declaration form.
Shortly thereafter, we each received a second email with instructions for how to access this encrypted file, and following those directions took about two minutes total, including multi-factor authentication time.
Step 3: Follow the instructions to complete and mail in your absentee ballot
Once we successfully accessed the absentee ballot and voter declaration form within the encrypted email, we were greeted with another set of simple, clear instructions for exactly how to complete them both and mail in our absentee votes from overseas.
We printed our ballots and voter declaration forms, along with the directions for each — which required a pen with blue or black ink, two blank envelopes, and the appropriate overseas postage — and followed those instructions step by step to ensure we didn’t miss anything important.
When is the deadline for mailing absentee ballots from overseas?
That answer will vary depending where you're registered to vote, so be sure to check out the election dates and deadlines by state to find out when your ballot will need to be postmarked by and received.
Can I submit my absentee ballot early, to be safe?
Similarly, this varies by state — review early voting dates by state to find out which early voting timeframe applies to you.
How do I know if my absentee ballot has been received?
I know, right? So stressful to think that our votes are at the mercy of the international postal system! But thankfully, most states offer a Track My Ballot option for absentee voters, so you should be able to keep tabs on when your ballot reaches its destination.
Where can I go if I still have questions?
Personally, I felt better after I checked out the Overseas Vote Foundation’s FAQ section—maybe you will, too? Otherwise, you can hit up their Voter Help Desk with any remaining concerns.
That’s everything—now, let’s vote!
The 2024 election has the potential to shape the direction of the U.S. for years to come. Our votes matter—perhaps now more than ever—because they represent not only our values, but also our hope for a better future.
Join us in following these simple steps to cast your vote from wherever you’re living these days, and let your voice be heard.
And if you could take a moment to share this post with anyone Americans you know who might be living abroad and need a little guidance on how to cast their vote from overseas, that would be huge, because there are a whopping 2.9 million U.S. voters overseas. Individually, it might not feel like our votes matter all that much. But together, we have so much power.
Now, it’s time to use that power.
Let’s make sure every vote counts.