Voting Assistance

General information

2012 Election

Questions & Answers

General information

You can refer to the Department of State’s website for information and instructions on Overseas Voting.

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2012 Election Cycle begins now

Be an active voter.  Start thinking about your participation in the U.S. 2012 elections today!

The Consular Section staff at Hanoi is ready to assist with completing your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) -- the form you need to complete this year to participate in the 2012 elections as an overseas absentee voter.  Our purpose is to inform and educate you about your voting rights, to ensure you are able to exercise your right to participate in elections for federal offices (President, Vice President, Senator, and Representative), and to assist you with voting in state or local elections, if allowed by your state.

New absentee voting laws are in effect for the 2012 elections. 

You will no longer automatically receive ballots based on a previous absentee ballot request. All U.S. citizens outside the United States who want to vote by absentee ballot in the 2012 primary and general elections must complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every year if they wish to vote from abroad. States are now required to send out ballots 45 days before an election. No matter what state you vote in, you can now ask your local election officials to provide your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state).  You can now also confirm your registration and ballot delivery on-line.  Be sure to include your email address on the form to take advantage of the electronic ballot delivery option.  This is the fastest and most reliable way to receive your ballot on time, and we strongly recommend every overseas voter take advantage of it. 

To request your absentee ballot and learn more go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) website http://www.fvap.gov/.  

Beginning in January 2012, presidential primaries will be held in the states of New Hampshire (January 10), South Carolina (January 21), Florida (January 31), Missouri (February 7), Wisconsin (February 21), Arizona (February 28), and Michigan (February 28).  Other states will follow throughout the spring and summer.  Voter registration deadlines for primaries are as early as January 3, 2012.  Note:  Participation in party presidential caucuses by overseas voters is not protected by federal law and requires in-person attendance in most cases.  If the party you are affiliated with selects presidential nominees by caucus in your state contact state party officials for further information.

You can obtain a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at FVAP’s website.  The FPCA is accepted by all local election officials in all U.S. states and territories.  It allows you to register to vote and request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (presidential and state primaries, run-off, special, and the November general elections) during the course of the year.  An online wizard will help you complete the form.  Depending on your state’s voting requirements, you then either send in the FPCA electronically or mail it to your local election officials.  To mail it, print out the completed FPCA and the (U.S.) postage-paid envelope containing the address of your local election officials.  If you bring in your forms or ballots to us we will mail them back home for you without you having to pay for international mail.  If it’s easier for you to use Vietnam's postal system, be sure to affix sufficient postage and allow sufficient time for international mail delivery. 

Make an appointment for forms and ballots submission to the consular section to be returned to the U.S. via pouch.  Appointments should be made for "notaries and others services" at https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=HAN&appcode=1.  Our diplomatic pouch goes out every Tuesday. 

Even if your state does not have a presidential primary in the early months of 2012, it is important that you submit a new Federal Post Card Application this and every January to receive all absentee ballots for which you are eligible.  By applying early, you also allow enough time for election officials to contact you and resolve any questions or problems with your registration/ballot request.   

Remember that your vote counts, and that many U.S. elections within the past ten years have been decided by a margin of victory of less than 0.1%.  All states are required to count every absentee ballot as long as it's valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline. 

Be an Educated Voter.  Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues.  Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain via numerous websites such as Project Smart Voter.  You can also read national and hometown newspapers on-line, or search the Internet to locate articles and information.  For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP's Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter.

If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact Hanoi Embassy’s Voting Assistance Officer at +84-4-3850-5000 or at VoteHanoi@state.gov. 

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Questions & Answers

Q:  How soon can I send in my FPCA?  Now?

A:  We recommend sending in your FPCA on or after January 1^st of each year, and every time you change your name, mailing address, or email address. 

Q:  I plan to vote absentee from abroad in the primary elections, but will be back in the United States for the November general elections?  Do I have to do anything special?

A:  When you fill out your FPCA, include a note to your local election officials that you’ll be returning to the United States on xxx date.  Once you are back home, contact your local election officials to confirm your new U.S. address and your intention to vote in the United States.

Q:  I’m a U.S. citizen but I’ve never lived in the United States.  Can I vote?

A:  Each state has its own residency requirements relating to voter eligibility.  Some states allow voters who have never lived in the United States to use their parents’ state of voting residence.  It’s best to get in touch with local election officials in the place where your parents last lived, or the place where you have visited frequently, to find out if you are eligible to register to vote.  FVAP’s Voting Assistance Guide will have a section titled Voting by Citizens Who Have Never Lived in the U.S. if the state has passed laws allowing these citizens to vote.  The Embassy voting assistance officer can help you get in touch with local election officials.

Q:  I haven’t lived in the United States for a long time, and don’t know what our address was?  Can I vote in any state?  What do I do?

A:  All voting in the United States is based on your residency.  Normally, you’d use the address where you last lived before leaving the United States, even if it was a very long time ago.  Someone in your family may have old letters which contain an address.  You can also check medical, church, school, or property records, or write to the Social Security Administration.   

Q:  What effect does voting have on my U.S. taxes? 

A:  U.S. citizens have an obligation to file federal tax returns wherever they live.  Voting for candidates for federal offices does not affect your federal or state tax liability.  Voting for candidates for state or local offices could affect your state tax liability.  Consult legal counsel if you have questions.

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