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U.S. Citizens Can Vote from Italy

U.S. Citizens Can Vote from Italy

Every American is able to cast a ballot and make his or her voice heard. Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) helps US citizens vote from wherever they are in the world.

Upcoming Elections in 2022

The 2022 U.S. midterm elections are right around the corner! 

The 2022 United States Senate elections will be held on November 8, 2022, with 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve six-year terms in the United States Congress from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2029.

All 34 Class 3 Senate seats are up for election in 2022; Class 3 currently consists of 14 Democrats and 20 Republicans. Two special elections will also be held—in California to fill the final weeks of Kamala Harris’s term and in Oklahoma to serve the four remaining years of Jim Inhofe’s term.

Six Republican senators as well as one Democratic senator have announced that they are not seeking re-election; 15 Republicans and 13 Democrats are running for re-election.

Numerous other federal, state, and local elections, including the 2022 House elections, will also be held on this date.

If you are an American living in Italy, you can vote via an absentee ballot.

Americans can vote from Italy

Every American is able to cast a ballot and make his or her voice heard. Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) helps US citizens vote from wherever they are in the world.

The two-step process is easy, but be sure to follow the procedure, fill in the correct forms and request your voter ballad in time for the actual elections.

Voter registration deadlines are 90 days before the election date. To be sure, all Federal Postcard Applications (FPCA) should be sent in by August 1st.

Who can vote?

To vote in U.S. elections, you must be a U.S. citizen, turn 18 on or before Election Day, and meet your state’s residency and registration requirements.

If you are living abroad, you can register to vote with an absentee ballot in the last state you resided in.

Voting with an absentee ballot from overseas

You need a voting residence to vote by absentee ballot — even if you are only voting for federal offices. Your election office needs your exact voting residence address to determine which offices and candidates you are eligible to vote for — and to send you the appropriate ballot for your voting precinct.

Your voting residence is your address in the state in which you were last domiciled, immediately prior to leaving the United States.

Click here to learn more about voting residency.

Children of U.S. Citizens 18 years of age, born outside the U.S.

Voting rights vary by state for U.S. citizens born overseas who have never established residence in the United States. In some states, U.S. citizens 18 years or older who were born abroad but have never resided in the U.S. are eligible to vote absentee.

If neither of your parents is from one of these states, it is possible that you do not currently have voting rights. However, additional states are working to pass legislation to allow citizens born overseas who have never established residency in the U.S. to vote in the state in which their parents are eligible.

 Click here to see state voter regulations for U.S. citizens who have never resided in the United States.  

How to vote for U.S. Elections with an Absentee Ballot

Step 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. 

Register for your absentee ballot

Click here to fill out the form online with the easy online voter assistance app which takes through the form step by step. You will fill in some questions and then need to print, sign and send in.

Even if you have already voted from abroad in the past, you will need to register for a new absentee ballot.  

Be sure that the FPCA is filled out correctly and includes:

  • Signature and date
  • Complete U.S. voting residence address (no P.O. Box addresses)
  • Legible handwriting
  • All information required by the state
  • Complete current address (must be a different address than the voting residence address)

Step 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 2022 General Election is October 24, 2022, 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.

After you send in your ballot, you can check if it was received by your election office.

Mailing in your form

Your Voter Ballot and FWAB come with an envelope with pre-paid postage. Please note: this free postage is ONLY available if dropped off at a consulate or the embassy. If you use the traditional postal service (Poste Italiane), you must pay the proper stamps and postage fees.

If you want to be sure your letter gets to your election office, use the consulate mail drop or use Poste Italiane Modulo Invio Raccomandata Internazionale and you will get a tracking number.

About The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world.

The Director of FVAP administers the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. UOCAVA, as amended by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, requires states to transmit requested absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters no later than 45 days before a federal election. Those citizens protected by UOCAVA include:

  • Members of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps)
  • Members of the Merchant Marines
  • Eligible family members of the above
  • U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.
  • FVAP assists voters through partnerships with the Military Services, Department of State, Department of Justice, election officials from 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

To see FVAP’s overall mission, vision, and goals for the next several years you can check out the Strategic Plan.

EasyMilano is part of the FVAP Voter Assistance program, if you have any questions about voting from overseas, feel free to contact us and we will point you in the right direction.


Easy Milano

Easy Milano is the online publication for the international community of Milan. We offer practical tips, key information and essential insights about living and working in Italy. Easy Milano has been assisting English speaking expats in Milan since 1999.
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