1   Request Your Ballot: Complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).  You must complete a new FPCA to ensure you receive your ballot for the U.S elections.  The completion of the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted.  The FPCA is accepted by all local election officials in all U.S. states and territories.  (Check with your state’s elections officials about voting in local elections.)

You can complete the FPCA online at www.FVAP.gov .  The online voting assistant will ask you questions specific to your state. All U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download.  Return the FPCA per the instructions on the website.  FVAP.gov will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original signature.  If you must return a paper version, please see below for mailing options.

2   Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and states generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections.  For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online.

If it is already within 45 days before Election Day and you have not yet received your ballot, fill out and mail in an emergency write-in ballot:  the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). You can also drop off your FWAB in person at the embassy and we will mail it to the United States for you via Diplomatic Post Office (see below).

3   Returning Your Completed, Signed Ballot:  Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not.  If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, or professional courier service. Routine operations at U.S. Embassy Santiago have been suspended due the COVID-19 pandemic, however you can still drop off your FPCA or completed ballot in person at our Embassy, and we will mail it to the United States for you free of charge via our Diplomatic Post Office (DPO).

Ballots must be placed in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. domestic postage so they may be delivered to the proper local election authorities (NOTE: postage from Chile to the United States is not required using this method).  Please note that all visitors to the Embassy are subject to security screening and you may not be permitted to bring electronic devices, including cell phones, inside the facility.  Please note that it can take up to four weeks for mail to reach its destination if sent through the embassy or consulate.  All overseas U.S. citizens are advised to submit their forms and ballots accordingly.

You may want to consider returning your ballot via a private courier service or international mail if the deadline for return of your ballot is near.

Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.