The U.S. Embassy on Monday called on American citizens residing in Nigeria on the necessary steps to participate in the Tuesday, November 5, 2024, U.S. elections by voting absentee.
Are You Eligible to Vote Absentee?
You can vote absentee if you meet the following criteria:
You are a U.S. citizen.
You are at least 18 years old.
You are absent from your voting residence in the United States.
Absentee voting applies to:
- an active duty member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine absent from your voting residence.
- an eligible spouse or family member of an active duty member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine.
- a U.S. citizen residing outside the country.
Three Steps to Vote from Abroad
To vote in the upcoming U.S. election, citizens living overseas must complete these three essential steps:
- Request Your Ballot
Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Programme (FVAP) website for detailed instructions on how to request your ballot. - Receive and Complete the Ballot
Once you receive your ballot, fill it out carefully, ensuring all necessary information is accurate. - Return Your Ballot
Drop off your completed ballot at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate General in Lagos using a postage-paid envelope.
Alternatively, you can mail it directly through your preferred postal service.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Vote Absentee from Abroad
1. Register to vote and request your ballot in one easy step.
Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and send it to your election office.
Check your voter registration deadline for the next election based on your state. For the General Election, it’s best to send in the FPCA by August 1.
Your voting residence (the U.S. state or territory where you are registering to vote) is likely your legal residence. Here’s how to determine your voting residence.
Using the FPCA ensures that your state will send your ballot to you at least 45 days before the election — a protection not guaranteed when using other forms. It’s a good idea to send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move.
2. Fill out and send in your ballot when it arrives.
For the general election, you should receive your ballot by early October.
Vote and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it. Check the deadline for your ballot based on your state. The recommended vote-by-day for the 2024 General Election is October 21, 2024, if you’re outside the U.S.
If you requested your ballot but haven’t received it, contact your election office to ask about the status of your ballot request.
If there isn’t enough time to receive and send back your ballot before the election, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
It works like a backup ballot. If your official absentee ballot arrives after sending in the FWAB, fill out and send in the official ballot too. Only one will be counted.
3. Track Your Ballot
After you send in your ballot, you can check if it was received by your election office.
How to Vote Absentee in the Military
Active duty service members and their families also have the option to vote absentee. The process is similar:
1. Register to vote and request your ballot in one easy step.
Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and send it to your election office.
Check your voter registration deadline for the next election based on your state. For the General Election, it’s best to send in the FPCA by August 1.
Your voting residence (the U.S. state or territory where you are registering to vote) is likely your legal residence. Here’s how to determine your voting residence.
Using the FPCA ensures that your state will send your ballot to you at least 45 days before the election — a protection not guaranteed when using other forms. It’s a good idea to send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move.
2. Fill out and send in your ballot when it arrives.
For the general election, you should receive your ballot by early October.
Vote and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it. Check the deadline for your ballot based on your state. MPS also has recommended mailing dates. The recommended vote-by days for the 2024 general election are:
If you requested your ballot but haven’t received it, contact your election office to ask about the status of your ballot request.
If there isn’t enough time to receive and send back your ballot before the election, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
It works like a backup ballot. If your official absentee ballot arrives after sending in the FWAB, fill out and send in the official ballot too. Only one will be counted.
After you send in your ballot, you can check if it was received by your election office.
