We will be traveling in Portugal and Spain this year during the General Election and we want to be sure to vote. No politics here please! Just seeking advice on the technical side of voting. We are hoping that other travelers can offer tips on the best way to vote while overseas.
We will depart US in Late August, before voting materials are available, and returning to US after Election Day/Nov. 5, 2024.
Looks like there may be 2 options: RAVBM (Remote Accessible Vote-by-mail) and FVAP (Federal Voting Assistance Program)/Absentee Overseas Citizen Voter.
We live in California, and have contacted our County Registrar’s Office, but they have given conflicting answers each time I have called.
The RAVBM would allow us to receive our ballot via email, but we would need to return the ballot via mail. Should we be concerned about sending something as important as our ballots via international mail from Barcelona? The ballot would have about 3-4 weeks to arrive in CA.
The FVAP/Absentee Overseas Citizen Voter would also allow us to receive our ballots via email, and then return the ballot via FAX. This seems like a more immediate way to track whether the ballot was received by our County Election Office. My concern is whether we are considered eligible for the FVAP/Overseas Citizen Voter. The website says one must be “US Citizens residing outside the country”. If we are traveling overseas, are we really “residing” overseas?
Has anyone used either of these programs to vote in a General Election? If so, any tips or suggestions?
We sincerely appreciate any advice on this.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17926 posts
This is interesting. I went to the government site and it's not great. I either have to find a FAX machine service in 21st century Europe or hope the mail gets there in time despite knowing my Christmas cards arrived in February.
Posted by
Redwood City & Uppsala Sweden
654 posts
I voted absentee for years, before the ease of the internet. FEDEX your ballot so it arrives more promptly? If your ballot is mailed on time, it WILL be counted in CA no matter when it arrives. Good luck!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5519 posts
Should we be concerned about sending something as important as our ballots via international mail from Barcelona? The ballot would have about 3-4 weeks to arrive in CA.
You can always use a service like DHL to return the ballot if you are concerned about regular post; that would get you tracking. It won’t be cheap.
When I lived overseas, it was before any email/internet options; I just returned ballots by post. I have no idea if they actually arrived.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10225 posts
My solution is that I planned my long trip to end on November 2 so that I will be home in time to vote. Normally I vote by mail but our ballots won’t arrive until after we leave for our trip.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11180 posts
We live in California, and have contacted our County Registrar’s Office, but they have given conflicting answers each time I have called.
If the folks in charge of running the election cannot tell you how to do it...... I wonder how anyone here can tell you how to do it.
Posted by
New England
35 posts
I'm with Andrea and joe32F.
Posted by
OP
Palm Springs
4 posts
Thanks so much for your input. I did a bit more research on the topic. Since we are not residing in a foreign country, we will not be able to use the Overseas Citizen Voter program. We will cast our vote via the RAVBM program. Sandancisco and Laura, I think your suggestions are very good; we will look into returning our ballots via DHL or FedEx.
Thanks once again.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10195 posts
We live overseas but are registered in the last US county we lived in. We were able to vote by email in 2020 and will do the same in 2024. You can give your county more time to set this year's procedures.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8446 posts
In my state:
"Voted absentee ballots must be received at the election authority’s office by 7:00 PM on Election Day."
Posted by
Santa Cruz, CA (USA)
36 posts
Also, in Santa Cruz County, so probably also in Riverside, and at least for “domestic” mail ballots, you can sign up for “track my ballot” for which they text you as it moves through the process.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10225 posts
I always use Track My Ballot. I never actually mail my ballot in. I prefer to leave it in a ballot drop box.
Posted by
Redwood City & Uppsala Sweden
654 posts
I think it's great you're taking the time & trouble to vote, and yes you can track your ballot in CA, here's the link https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-status/wheres-my-ballot
I could imagine the websites could be confusing. But hopefully the reason most of us give advice is because we actually have experience doing it. And we pay attention in our case via , 'track your ballot' so we know they got counted!
Posted by
Racine, WI
68 posts
Call your county clerk. No one here can accurately answer your question.
Posted by
Central US
118 posts
When I lived overseas (also before the internet), I tried voting absentee (filling out all necessary paperwork etc. in advance), but I never received my ballot until after the election. Too late to vote.
My years living outside the US were the only times in my life I didn’t (couldn’t) vote.
I, like Andrea, would want to plan to be home to either get the ballot or vote in person.