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For what contests am I eligible to vote?

It depends. Military voters and their spouses and dependents may vote for all federal*, state, and local contests. Some voters who reside outside the U.S. may vote for all federal, state and local offices, while others may only vote for federal contests. You can vote for all federal, state, and local offices if you are a U.S. citizen, reside outside of the U.S., and are a:
  • Civilian employee of the U.S. Government serving outside of the United States and its territories or a spouse or dependent of this individual
  • Member of the American Red Cross, Society of Friends, or USO serving with the Armed Forces outside of the United States or a spouse or dependent of this individual


If you are a U.S. citizen and reside outside of the U.S., the contests you can vote for depend on whether you plan to return and live in the U.S. in the future.
  • If you plan to live in the U.S. – even if you do not know when that might be, you can vote for all federal, state, and local offices. If you are completing a voter registration or mail-in ballot request form, select “A U.S. citizen living outside the U.S. and I intend to return to the U.S.”
  • If you don’t plan to live in the U.S. again, you can vote for all federal offices. If you are completing a voter registration or mail-in ballot request form, select “A U.S. citizen living outside the U.S. and my return to the U.S. is not certain.”


* Federal offices are President/Vice-President, U.S. Senate, Representatives to the U.S. Congress, and delegates to the national conventions (primary elections only).