I heard I can give my overseas absentee ballot to a visiting friend to take back to the U.S. and drop it in the USPS mail system for delivery.
Ballot return options vary by state. Before giving your ballot to someone to mail from within the U.S., we advise you to contact your Election Office for guidance.
Overseas Vote recommends in every case where you possibly can, that you mail your ballot with a postmark from outside the U.S. If you are stuck with an unreliable or non-existent postal system, be sure to check with your Election Office first regarding postmark requirements.
In past elections some jurisdictions rejected ballots without an overseas postmark, though a handful of states have since enacted legislation to prevent this.
Note that US Consulates and Embassies may accept your ballot to go into the diplomatic pouch. They cannot guarantee mailing time, but this can be considered an additional ballot return option.
Give your ballot plenty of time to arrive. Vote and post your ballot back promptly after you receive it.
Exceptions:
- Military voters and families mailing from military bases abroad or within the U.S. - does not require an overseas postmark
- The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) always requires an overseas postmark
Look up your state's ballot return options in our State Voter Information directory - check out the Voter Materials Transmission Options in your state.