Qualified United States citizens who reside overseas are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their state of last residence. The Department of State, via Embassies and Consulates assists citizens to exercise their vote. The voting officer at American Embassy can provide citizens with information on the voting process and help in complying with state's laws.
Below, please find instructions on how to register and obtain a ballot and information on Other Voting Services.
U.S. Citizens do not vote at the Embassy. The electoral process is administered by the states and citizens vote by mailing an absentee ballot to their home state.
How to register and obtain a ballot:
State voting laws differ. Acceptance and denial of voting applications is up to State officials. Depending on your state, you may register permanently, register temporarily, or apply for an absentee ballot by waiving registration. You may do any of these with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), available from the Embassy Voting Officer. As it can take 3 months to obtain an absentee ballot, the US Embassy recommends that citizens apply early. Once received, the ballot may be retained and submitted closer to the time of elections.
TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE EMBASSY AT 01 668-8777, ext: 2080. WHEN CALLING PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, IRISH MAILING ADDRESS AND THE STATE IN WHICH YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER. THE MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED WILL THEN BE SENT TO YOU IN DUE COURSE.
ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY VISIT THE AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES UNIT AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT:
42 ELGIN ROAD
BALLSBRIDGE
DUBLIN 4
AND REQUEST THE FORM IN PERSON. OFFICE HOURS ARE 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M., MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY and FRIDAY, IRISH AND AMERICAN HOLIDAYS EXCEPTED.
If you make a timely application for an absentee ballot for a General Federal Election but do not receive it in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) available from the Embassy Voting Officer. It is only good for federal offices. The FWAB can be mailed by the same methods as the FPCA but must show an overseas return address.
Other Voting ServicesEmbassy/Consulate Voting Officers post notices of upcoming elections, notarize ballot materials and perform similar voting-related duties.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides international toll-free access to the FVAP office and the automated Voting Information Service. You may access the program by dialing 1800 555-189, or e-mail the office at vote@fvap.gov or on the worldwide web at http://www.fvap.gov/ |
