Overview

Voter Registration - Public Services

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) recommends that all citizens submit a new FPCA to their local election official in January of each year. This FPCA will register and confirm the citzen's registration, will act as a request for absentee ballots for any elections to be held that year, and will inform the local election official of the citizens' current mailing address. To register to vote, send an e-mail with your name, address and state of last residence to:  American Citizen Services  and we'll send the papers you need to register. You can also download the FPCA card from: The FVAP website.

Voting Information:

U.S. Law authorizes qualified citizens residing abroad to register and vote by absentee ballot in their state of last residence. Voting Officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information on the voting processes and will help you with complying with your home state's laws. Americans do not actually vote at Embassies and Consulates. The electoral process is administered by the states, and you vote by mailing an absentee ballot to your home state.

How to Obtain Voting Information:

For official information for voting overseas, the Voting Assistance Guide is available at Embassies and Consulates. It includes instructions on filling out the federal forms, gives suggestions on how to determine the state in which you should vote, and summarizes state regulations on how to register and request ballots.

How to Register:

Acceptance or denial of voting applications is up to state officials (state voting laws differ). Depending on your state, you may register permanently, register temporarily, or apply for an absentee ballot by waiving registration. You may do any of these with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) available from your Embassy/Consulate.

The FPCA and your completed ballot can be mailed postage free from embassies and consulates using APO/FPO (military) mail facilities or the diplomatic pouch. However international airmail often is faster, but must be used at your own expense. You may want to consider it if you are mailing material shortly before your state's filing or election deadline. If you make a timely application for an absentee ballot for a general federal election, but do not receive it in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available from the Embassy/Consulate voting officer. It is only good for federal and not individual state offices. The FWAB can be mailed by the same methods as the FPCA, but must show an overseas return address.

Download the forms:

• FWAB form
• FPCA form

Other Voting Services:

The Embassy/Consulate voting officers will post notices of upcoming elections, notarize ballot materials, and perform similar voting-related duties.

The Embassy/Consulate voting officer does not provide information on candidates and issues. It is the voter's responsibility to keep informed through U.S. media, relatives in the U.S., and overseas political party organizations.

How to contact the Voting Officer

U.S. Citizens can contact the voting officer at:

Postal Address:

U.S. Embassy
P.O. Box 3430
Matafele
Apia, Samoa

Street Address:

5th Floor,
Accident Corporation Building,
Matafele
Apia 

Ph: +685 21436 / 21631 / 21452 or 22696
Fax: +685 22030
Email: AmEmbApia@state.gov