AIT strongly encourages all U.S. citizens residing in Taiwan to vote in all U.S. elections in which they’re eligible. Our staff members in the American Citizen Services unit are available to answer your questions and provide relevant resources. Please write to VoteTaipei@state.gov with specific questions.

WHO: Generally, all U.S. citizens 18 years or older who are residing outside of the United States during an election period are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in any election for federal office.

WHERE: You can vote by absentee ballot in federal elections held in the state in which you are registered or in which you were last registered to vote. If you were never registered, you can register and vote in the last state in which you resided. If you never resided in the United States, you can register and vote in the last state your parents resided in before your birth (in most states). Voting jurisdictions in the U.S. are usually by county, but sometimes by township or city.

HOW: You must apply for an absentee ballot by submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to your city, town, county, or parish clerk in the US. The FPCA is accepted by all states and territories as either an application for registration form or as an application for an absentee ballot (or both).

Applications are available online at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website.  This interactive website guides users through the registration process and provides complete state-specific instructions.

There are no provisions for voting or registration at AIT. However, AIT American Citizen Services Unit will assist U.S. citizens in witnessing or notarizing FPCA forms free of charge (only required by four jurisdictions)

Step 1. Register. Submit the FPCA form to the U.S. We recommend that you send any form to the U.S. using the Taiwan postal system, which is fast and inexpensive. AIT can also mail the form to the U.S. for you for free, but this service takes at least two weeks. Get the address of your local election official from the FVAP website.

Step 2. Request a Ballot. The form mentioned above (FPCA) also serves as a ballot request.  If you live overseas, you should submit this form every year, even if you are already registered to vote.  This will let your U.S. local election official know that you live in Taiwan and where they should send the ballot. Print legibly!  The form must be submitted well before the election.  Again, we recommend the Taiwan postal system for any forms that are mailed.

Step 3. Receive a Ballot. If you do not receive the ballot within two weeks of the election, complete an Emergency Write-In Ballot, available from the FVAP website. Only those who submitted an FPCA but did not receive the ballot in time are permitted to use the Emergency Write-In Ballot. Check out the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot FAQs on our website.

Step 4. Submit Voted Ballot. Vote your ballot and mail it in the envelope provided if you use the postal service.  If using the Emergency Write-In Ballot, use your own envelope and address it to the same local election official to whom you sent the FPCA.  When mailing your ballot, there are several  mailing options in Taiwan to choose from.  If you sent in the emergency write-in ballot and you later receive the state’s regular ballot, you may also vote and mail the regular ballot in (your vote will only be counted once).  Some states now accept ballots by fax or email. 

US Elections and Voting Updates

2012 News

FVAP News Release #9: Alabama Ballot Deadline Extended by Federal Judge (March 7, 2012)

FVAP News Release #8: DoD Awards Grants for State and Local Military/Overseas Voting Systems (March 7, 2012)

FVAP News Release #7: Register and Request Your Ballot for Upcoming Primaries (March 2, 2012)

FVAP News Release #6: 8th Congressional District Arizona Voters, Request Your Ballot for the April 17 Special Primary Election (February 24, 2012)

FVAP News Release #5: Register and Request Your Ballot for Upcoming Primaries (February 3, 2012)

FVAP News Release #3: DoD Awards Grants For State and Local Military/Overseas Voting Systems (January 18, 2012)

FVAP News Release #2: Register And Request Your Ballot For Upcoming Primaries (January 6, 2012)

FVAP News Release #1: DoD Awards Grants for State and Local Military/Overseas Voting Systems (January 5, 2012)

2011 News

FVAP News Release #38: 1st Congressional District Oregon Voters, Access Your Ballot Online for the January 31st Special Election (December 20, 2011)

FVAP News Release #37: DoD Awards Grants for State & Local Military/Overseas Voting Systems (December 19, 2011)

FVAP News Release #36: Sign-up Now For State-Specific Election Information (December 19, 2011)

FVAP News Release #35: Updated Back-Up Absentee Ballot Now Available (December 13, 2011)

FVAP News Release #34: Submit Your Registration and Ballot Request Form for Upcoming January, February and March 2012 Primaries (December 7, 2011)

FVAP News Release #33: 2012 General Election Absentee Ballot Mailing Deadlines (December 6, 2011)

FVAP News Release #32: DoD Awards Military/Overseas Voting Systems Grants for New York State and a Consortium of 14 Florida Counties (November 10, 2011)

FVAP News Release #31: 2012 Election Voting Assistance Tips Off At Carrier Classic (November 8, 2011)

FVAP News Release #30: NH, SC, FL, MO, AZ, MI Voters, Submit Your Registration and Ballot Request Form for Upcoming January and February 2012 Primaries (November 4, 2011)

FVAP News Release #29: DoD Awards Grants for State & Local Military/Overseas Voting Systems (November 3, 2011)

FVAP News Release #28: New Voter Registration and Ballot Request Now Available (October 20, 2011)

FVAP News Release #27: Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina Voters, Submit Your Registration and Ballot Request Form for Upcoming Early Presidential Primaries (October 19, 2011)

FVAP News Release #26: Military Voter Participation Increased 21% in 2010 Election (October 18, 2011)

FVAP News Release #25: Submit Your Ballot Request NOW for the November 2011 General Statewide Elections! (October 6, 2011)

FVAP News Release #24: Ohio Keeps Military Voters Informed With New Website (October 5, 2011)

FVAP News Release #23: Arkansas to Hold Special State Highway Bond Election (September 21, 2011)

FVAP News Release #22: FVAP Recommends Grant Recipients, Award Discussions to Begin Shortly (September 12, 2011)

FVAP News Release #21: West Virginia to Hold a Special Election for Governor (August 29, 2011)  

If you would like to receive older News Releases, please email us at vote@fvap.gov