U.S. citizens overseas eighteen years of age or older are entitled to vote by absentee ballot. If you are registered in a particular state, you may request absentee ballots from the appropriate local official in that state. (We can help you identify to whom and where to write). Federal law (the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act) entitles American citizens living abroad to vote at least for federal office in that state or territory where a citizen last resided prior to leaving the United States, regardless of whether you still have a home there or how long ago you left. If you qualify, all states must let you vote for federal office (Senator, Congressman). Some States only let you vote for federal office. Others will let you vote for local office (Governor, State legislator, Mayor, Town Council, etc.). Under federal law, states cannot make you liable for state or local income taxes if you vote by absentee ballot for federal offices, although some States may consider that voting for local officeholders (e.g., Governor, municipal officials) makes you liable for State/local income taxes. The Embassy, Consulate, or Consular Agency can give you more information.

There is no voting in the Embassy, Consulate or Consular Agency. Voters who want to vote must register in a particular state, as described above, and request an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot is sent by mail (only a few states permit faxed ballots). You, the voter, must mark the ballot and return it to your state (very few states permit fax returns, and you surrender the secrecy of your ballot when faxing). In most states, that ballot must be in the hands of the local official by Election Day. Absentee voters, therefore, should generally apply for absentee ballots at least 45 days prior to the election. If you use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, see below) you should apply at the beginning of the calendar year. Most states will then send you absentee ballots for all federal elections (including primaries) during that calendar year.

Voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in order to register and/or request an absentee ballot. The Embassy, Consulate or Consular Agency can send you an FPCA. In order to do this, we need to know (a) your name and current address and (b) the address where you last lived or were registered to vote in the U.S. Click here krakowacs@state.gov to send us an e-mail. You can also download an FPCA from the Internet at http://www.fvap.gov (The on-line version is invalid in American Samoa and Guam).

For additional resources about absentee voting, including links to non-partisan sources of information, see the U.S. Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov/law/info/info_2964.html.
The Voting Assistance Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow, Poland is available to answer questions about absentee voting, to assist in registering to vote and in requesting absentee ballots. To contact the Voting Assistance Officer, call 021-424-5155or send an e-mail to: krakowacs@state.gov.

Americans in Poland may also contact Democrats Abroad at: daviddebenedetti@yahoo.com and Republicans Abroad at: md@bi-solutions.biz for absentee voting information, or for assistance in registering to vote or to request absentee ballots.