how to vote: as an american studying in the uK
It’s time to cast your vote in the 2024 US Presidential election, and your vote matters. Even though you are not studying and living back at home, your vote will impact your future!
Here’s how to vote overseas as an international student.
Step One: Register To Vote
Before you can cast your ballot, you need to make sure you have registered. You need to complete the FPCA form, and enter information for:
- US Voting Address,
- Your Overseas Address,
- Email Address,
- Your States Identification Process (Some states have different check requirements and procedure)
If you are looking for the FCPA form, you can find it here!
Step 2: Receive Your Ballot
Once you have registered, state officials have to make sure you have been sent your ballot at least 45 days before the day of the election.
However, due to late ballots, and because everyone’s vote matters, if you do not receive your ballot 30 days prior you need to check your states ballot tracking system.
Similarly, if you do not receive your ballot at all, you can con use the federal write in, absentee ballot. This form can be found and filled in here!
Make sure to double check your states rules for late voting as some may differ from others.
Once you have checked your presidential candidate box, keep it safe until you have to send off your vote.
Step 3: Send Off Your Ballot
Now that you have your ballot you need to make sure you have placed your signature.
The Overseas Vote guideline state you should “Follow the instructions to sign the ballot envelope (if you received a printed, paper ballot), or the attestation (if you received an online ballot and printed it yourself). Never sign the actual ballot page. Again, check the instructions.”
It’s essential you send over your ballot as early as possible to make sure it arrives on time.
If you are still confused with the first three steps, read the official guidelines here!
Step 4: Follow Up
The final step is to follow up on your vote, and double check that is has been sent off and counted as an official ballot.
You can do this by checking on your states guidelines. This step is just as important as the others. Many Americans vote from overseas, but their votes don’t always get accepted. This is bevcause of errors made along the way of completeing the forms.
If you have any questions, or if you need some more help you can contact your local officials back at home, or see if your university offers and student support for voting overseas as an international student.
