Nearly three million U.S. citizens living abroad are eligible to vote. There are nearly half a million in Canada alone. However, most don’t register, they don’t vote or they wait too late to try.
When they do vote, though, they can turn close elections.
A federal law, called the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986, or UOCAVA, requires that states allow service personnel and their family members as well as civilians overseas to vote absentee in federal elections. Active-duty military members can also register and vote under UOCAVA if they are stationed away from their voting residence within the United States.
That means, if you’re from Florida but you are serving in the Navy in California, you can request and return your ballot from Florida and vote. That’s the law.
Eligible US citizens can register and vote wherever they are.
- If you’re part of an active-duty military family stationed in South Korea… You can vote.
- If you’re a retiree living in Costa Rica… You can vote.
- If your company transferred you to Vancouver… You can vote.
- If you work in the US Embassy in Australia… You can vote.
- If you are a student in Tokyo, a scientist in Malawi or a crew member on a boat at sea … You can vote.
Chances are, though, these voters won’t vote.
They don’t know how, they think it is too difficult or they think it won’t count.
That’s where you come in: Nothing moves people to vote like a friend or family member who asks. Do you know someone who can vote from abroad? Ask them to.
Everything they need is at votefromabroad.org or fvap.gov — It’s easy to do. And it may just make a big difference!