Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen abroad you are eligible to vote in the 2026 midterm elections. During the midterm elections all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the seats (100) in the U.S. Senate are up for vote.
First, primary elections are held in each state to determine which candidate is nominated to represent each political party. And then, a general midterm election is held in every state on Tuesday, November 3rd to elect the winners to office.
When are the Midterm Elections and What is Their Purpose?
U.S. Citizens living outside the U.S., as well as uniformed services members and their families away from their domicile, are absolutely permitted to vote in federal elections. And you should!
Federal offices include members of the U.S. Congress, the highest offices on the ballot in this year's midterm elections.
Do Midterm Elections Affect the President?
Citizens living outside the U.S. temporarily, as well as military members and their families can also vote in state elections (your state’s Governor, Lieutenant Governor, General Assembly, Attorney General, Auditor General, and State Treasurer). Whether you live overseas long term or short-term, for example, studying abroad or on a work assignment, you are entitled to vote.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), enacted in 1986, affords U.S. citizens, members of the military, and their families the right to vote in federal elections. The right to vote in state elections comes directly from the states themselves. In order to vote, citizens living abroad must follow a few steps, the first step being registering to vote.
The overseas voting process is not difficult, but since it may be the first time many are voting from outside the U.S., it can be unfamiliar. That’s why U.S. Vote Foundation developed a simple tool to assist with the process – the Voter Journey Map!
The Voter Journey Map (VJM) gives overseas and military voters their how-to-vote checklist. The VJM is an interactive experience that guides you through the steps that work best for your individual situation and creates a personalized map for how to vote in the 2026 midterm elections.
In less than 5 minutes, you will have a map and list of custom resources to guide you to Election Day from start to finish. Click on the button below to try it out today!
Approximately 3.3 million U.S. citizens live outside the United States and 2.2 million are voting age and are eligible to vote. That’s similar to the population of New Mexico! In the last 10-15 years, the overseas voting process has been transformed. Most of the steps are easily available to voters online. However, despite the improvements, many voters still do not take advantage of the program. In 2024 only 11% of these people actually cast a ballot1.
There are many misunderstandings about voting abroad leading U.S. citizens to believe they are ineligible. Some examples of these misconceptions are: people think they must own property in the U.S. in order to vote (they don't!). Or, that their very first time voting cannot be from overseas (not true!). Or, that ballots must be notarized in order to count (absolutely not!) Or, and their vote doesn’t make a difference (which couldn't be further from the truth!). In fact, none of these statements are true!
See Our Dynamic Overseas Voting Myths vs. Truths page
If you are a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older, you can vote in this year’s midterm elections and your vote will count. You will make a difference! Elections are often won by less than one percentage point. Could you imagine what a difference it would make if just 1% more citizens abroad would cast their ballots?
If you’re a citizen living outside the U.S. be sure to register and vote in this year’s midterm elections! You have a valuable role in U.S. elections and your vote matters!
Build Your Path to Election Day: Voter Journey Map
Learn More: See the Top FAQs on Overseas Voting
Register and Request Your Overseas Ballot Today!
1. https://www.fvap.gov/info/reports-surveys/overseas-citizen-population-analysis