Some time ago some of the forum’s American expats (Germany, France) posted that no American living abroad could vote. I said my cousin has lived in Canada for 45 years and still votes absentee.
Here’s what she said:
Register with the county where you last lived.
They prepare a ballot specifically for overseas Americans that just includes federal offices. They will mail this ballot to you. This happens for both the primary contest and the November general election.
That should be very useful information for the affected people, and good of you to provide it, toby.
If you’re going to be Federally taxed, at least be represented, and vote for that representation.
I've been getting periodic emails telling me about how Americans can vote abroad. They're coming from the Department of State since I'm enrolled in the STEP program. I wasn't sure why they were sending them to me, because I'm not living abroad, but I guess they send them out if you're subscribed.
At any rate, here's the website for the Federal Voting Assistance Program, where you can go if you are living abroad or military, etc. and need to vote. https://www.fvap.gov
For what it's worth, I don't think it's just a federal ballot. They ask for the state that you're living in, and you click on that, and then I guess you can vote by absentee for the state that you are officially a resident of.
I vote in Oklahoma, in the county where my parents live. I have for 20 years. I get to vote in all the federal/state/district/county races and for state questions.
Indeed, the FVAP that Mardee cited is the way to go to get hooked up with your local county election board.
Note that I learned just this summer that it is a totally different process if you live in the States and are asking to absentee vote because you will be abroad at the time of the election in question. I had no idea that was the case !
IMO, people living abroad need to look into this very carefully. From what I can see there is not a “federal ballot” as states control elections. And you register in the state of your last residence.
Kim, I am in the process of trying to accomplish just that, since I will be traveling on Election Day. It is not simple!
