As much as you might wish, you cannot "choose" which state you send your ballot back to when you vote from abroad, that is not how the overseas voting program works. The state you vote in is the state you are "most connected" to, and that is considered the last state and county you lived in before you left. That is what determines your "voting residence address". It is the place you actually lived, made a home and intended to stay (until you left!).
A temporary stay or visit in a different state does not constitute living there and will not change your voting residence address.
Formally stated:
U.S. citizens living outside of the U.S. are only permitted to register and vote in the state and county where they last established residence (domicile) in the U.S. before moving outside of the country. This is your "voting residence address," and it is this address that defines your state and jurisdiction for voting. You cannot use a P.O. Box as your last U.S. address.
It does not matter where your relatives live or where you spend vacations. Your state of voting is based on the last place you lived.
You will use the address of the last real home you had in the U.S.—where you actually resided. This is your "voting residence address," and it is this address that defines your state and jurisdiction for voting. You cannot use a P.O. Box as your last U.S. address.
You don't need to have any current ties with your previous address or state. There is absolutely no requirement for overseas voters to continue to maintain a residence or to own property in the U.S. in order to vote.
For further information, please read see "Which state do I vote in if I no longer maintain a US residence?" If you are unsure of what address to use, you can see the question "What address should I use when registering to vote from overseas?"
If you are still unsure, please consult our Voter Help Desk for further information or to submit questions about your particular situation.
