As part of the Mission’s Absentee Voter Week, the U.S. Consulate Toronto’s Consular and Public Affairs Sections jointly held an Absentee Voter Registration Open House on September 28, 2016. Consular Officers answered questions about receiving an absentee ballot overseas and assisted the U.S. citizens in the absentee voter registration process. Consular Chief Scott Renner was interviewed by CBC and the Canadian Press Agency at the event.
Most American citizens residing overseas can vote in local, state, and federal elections by absentee ballot. Absentee voter information and registration is accessible online from home through the website of the Federal Voting Assistance Program at www.fvap.gov. This website provides online tools and detailed information on the varying deadlines of each state, eligibility requirements, how to register to vote, and how to vote by absentee ballot. Voting by absentee ballot is fast, free and accessible. Applicants can choose an electronic delivery of the absentee ballot by including an email address on the Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request: Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA or the completed ballot can be returned to a U.S. Embassy or consulate for mail delivery to the United States free of charge via diplomatic pouch. The postage-paid return envelopes are available from www.fvap.gov. U.S. citizens can drop off an FPCA or completed ballot in person at any embassy or consulate during public hours.
