Responsibility Has No Borders. Vote!

Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are or will be residing outside the United States during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for Federal office. In addition, all members of the Uniformed Services, their family members and members of the Merchant Marine and their family members, who are U.S. citizens, may vote absentee in Federal, state and local elections.

To apply for an absentee ballot, you need to complete the Federal Post Card Application Form (FPAC). The FPCA is accepted by all states and territories as an application for registration and for absentee ballot. It is postage-free when placed in the U.S. mail. The on-line version of the FPCA (OFPCA) is available at the FVAP website, http://www.fvap.gov/, but must be completed, printed, signed, dated and placed in an envelope affixed with proper postage, and mailed to your Local Election Official. All States and Territories except American Samoa and Guam accept the OFPCA. In all states and territories, one FPCA will secure for the applicant both primary and general election ballots for Federal offices for an entire calendar year.

Specific information on applying for and completing absentee registration and a ballot is contained in the Voting Assistance Guide (VAG). Copies of the 2006-2007 VAG, as well as FPACs, are available at the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy. FPACs can also be mailed to you upon your request. You can find electronic versions of the VAG as well as other voting related information and links on the FVAP website, http://www.fvap.gov/.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) continues to recommend that each citizen submit an FPCA to their state of legal residence in January of each year and each time there is a change in the citizens mailing address. Every registered citizen is strongly urged to submit the FPCA so that it is received by the election official at least 45 days prior to the election. Unregistered citizens are urged to submit the FPCA so that it arrives at least 60 days prior to the election.

Each State/territory has specific information to help a citizen register and cast an absentee ballot in their state, deadlines for registration and where to mail the FPCA. Please consult the Voting Assistance Guide for detailed information regarding your state’s requirements.

At the present time, there are no provisions for in-person voting or on-site registration to be conducted at U.S. embassies or consulates. The American Citizen Services Unit at U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will assist U.S. citizens in completing FPCA forms for their state, witness or notarize FPCA forms and ballots (if required), and provide other absentee voting information. U.S. embassy and consulate locations serve also as a mailing point. FPCA forms, absentee ballots and other election materials may be mailed back, U.S. domestic postage paid, through U.S. government mail system to your local voting jurisdiction in the U.S. where absentee registration and ballot requests are processed. Please note that the return address (box 4) on the FPCA should be your personal address in Ukraine, not the U.S. Embassy/ Consulate. Please contact ACS at (38044) 490-4422, or email: kyivacsREMOVE@REMOVEstate.gov.