Don’t wait – return your completed ballot right away! Remember: U.S. embassies and consulates are not polling places; same-day in-person voting is not available outside the United States.
U.S. citizens who want to participate in the 2022 U.S. elections should return their absentee ballots to their local election officials as soon as possible, to avoid unanticipated delays. If you have not yet returned your ballot, you will find instructions on returning your ballot below.
Never received your ballot? If you registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot prior to your state’s registration deadline, but have not yet received your ballot, complete and return a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to ensure your vote reaches election officials by your state’s deadline. If your regular ballot arrives later, complete and return it as well. Your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot will only be counted if your regular ballot does not reach local election officials by your state’s deadline. Your vote will not be counted twice.
Returning Your Ballot:
We strongly recommend U.S. voters to return your paper ballot to your local election officials by Election Day using U.S. domestic postage via your local embassy or consulate as soon as possible.
If you would like us to forward your ballot for you, please mail your completed, prepared ballot to your nearest embassy or consulate to be mailed to the United States. To do so, place your completed ballot in a postage-paid sealed envelope addressed to your local election officials. Then, place the sealed envelope in a separate envelope, addressed to your nearest embassy or consulate, with the words “VOTING MATERIAL ENCLOSED” printed on the front of the envelope. Specific mailing address information for your nearest embassy or consulate is listed below. Prepare and mail your ballot as soon as possible to ensure it arrives in the United States on time.
Need an alternate delivery option?
Consider returning your ballot to the United States via an express courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL or electronically if allowed by your state. Ballots sent to local election officials via express courier service do not receive standard postmarks, so voters using this method should confirm delivery on or before August, 2022 prior to payment and shipment. Be sure to affix sufficient international postage, and allow sufficient time for international mail delivery. Check your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov for guidance.
Returning your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot by email or fax.
If you have previously registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot but it has not yet arrived, you may be able to send your signed Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots to local election officials through email or fax. Review your state’s voting procedures at www.FVAP.gov carefully for guidance.
Help Spread the Word About Overseas Voting:
Please help spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues that now is the time to start thinking about overseas voting. Consider posting to your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or other social media account that you are an active voter and will be dropping off or mailing your Federal Post Card Application or completed ballot. Use #ProudOverseasVoter to help get the word out about voting.
Return a ballot, ask questions, or just need help?
Our Voting Assistance Officers or private U.S. citizen volunteers are here to help you! Our Voting Assistance Officers are available during normal business hours to answer questions and provide assistance by phone and email at the addresses below.
U.S. Embassy Brasilia
SES – Av. das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03
Brasília, DF – 70403-900
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (61) 3312-7000
E-mail: VoteBrasilia@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Recife
Rua Goncalves Maia, 163 Bairro Boa Vista
Recife, PE – 50070-125
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (81) 3416-3050
Email: VoteRecife@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro
Av. Presidente Wilson, 147 Castelo
Rio de Janeiro, RJ – 20030-020
Entrance at Rua Santa Luzia
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (21) 3823-2000
Email: VoteRioDeJaneiro@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General São Paulo
Rua Henri Dunant, 500, Chácara Santo Antonio
São Paulo, SP – 04709-110
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (11) 3250-5000
E-mail: VoteSaoPaulo@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Porto Alegre (Address for Mailed Ballots)
Rua Bezerra de Menezes, 82, Passo d’Areia
Porto Alegre, RS – 91350-130
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (51) 3345-6000
E-mail: VotePortoAlegre@state.gov
You can also contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program directly if you encounter issues with local election officials by emailing Vote@FVAP.gov or toll free by phone from many countries around the world.
Confirm your registration and ballot delivery online. Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website at www.FVAP.gov.
