Be an Active Voter by taking the necessary steps to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections!
In some states voter registration and ballot request deadlines for the November 2020 are as early as October 5th. Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) each year to ensure you are able to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.
No matter which state you vote in, we encourage you to ask your local election officials to deliver your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state). Be sure to include your email address to take advantage of electronic delivery. The online voting assistant will generate a printable FPCA, which you can then print and sign. After submitting your FPCA, most states allow you to confirm online your registration and ballot delivery selection.
If you have already completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)in 2020 and requested electronic delivery of your ballot, you will be receiving your blank ballot or instructions for how to access your ballot soon if you have not already received it. If you are not sure about the status of your absentee ballot request you should contact your local election officials in the United States or check the status of your registration via your state’s voter registration verification website.
You can send your FPCA or ballot directly to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense.
In order to mail your election materials through the U.S. Embassy Athens or Consulate General Thessaloniki, you may drop off your completed and sealed voter registration form or ballot in a postage paid envelope (available for free on FVAP.gov) or with sufficient U.S. postage for delivery from the mail sorting facility to the election office in the following ways:
- Drop off at the U.S. Embassy in Athens: Kokali gate entrance vote box outside of security Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on workdays
- Drop off at U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki: 43 Tsimiski 7th Floor, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on workdays
Due to unpredictable pouch and USPS delivery times and different state deadlines, ballots should be delivered to the Embassy in Athens no later than 9:00am Monday, September 28. Ballots should be delivered to the Consulate General in Thessaloniki no later than 4:00pm Wednesday, September 23.
We will continue to forward voting materials and ballots received after these dates, but cannot guarantee delivery to U.S. local election offices by November 3.
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 is a backup ballot you can use if you don’t receive your ballot in a timely manner. 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.
If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please review the Frequently Asked Questions about Voting on the Embassy website (https://gr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/voting/) or contact the Embassy Athens Voting Assistance Officer at VoteAthens@state.gov.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Athens
+(30) 210-721-2951
AthensAmericanCitizenServices@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki
+(30) 2310-376-300
State Department – Consular Affairs
(888) 407-4747 or (202) 501-4444
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