Berlin, September 17th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Americans living in Germany and elsewhere overseas do not lose their right to vote in U.S. federal elections. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, nearly every U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who resides outside the country can cast a ballot for federal office, regardless of how many years they have lived abroad. The same protection covers members of the U.S. military, the Merchant Marines and their eligible family members.
This is a federal midterm election year in the United States. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly a third of the Senate are up for election. Election Day falls on November 3rd, 2026.
More than 120,000 Americans live in Germany, yet many are unaware that they can vote from abroad, or find the process confusing. On Saturday, September 19th, the group Democrats Abroad Germany is holding a nationwide “Ballot Drop Day” to help eligible U.S. citizens register and request their ballots before the November election.
Assistance for Voters
Volunteers at the free help stations assist voters with checking their registration status, filling out the Federal Post Card Application, requesting electronic ballot delivery, and understanding the return deadlines and requirements of their specific home state, which can vary considerably since U.S. elections are run at the state rather than the federal level.
Locations include Berlin, Düsseldorf, Mainz, Munich, Nuremberg and Würzburg, with virtual sessions offered for those who cannot attend in person. Organizers describe the support as nonpartisan and open to all eligible U.S. voters, including dual citizens.
“Voting from abroad can be confusing because every state has different rules,” said Sarah Mulloy, the state chair of Democrats Abroad Germany, adding that the goal is to make the process as simple as possible for Americans in the country. Event details and locations are listed here.
The Berlin event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 19th, 2026, at the weekly Kollwitzplatz market located at the square of the same name in Prenzlauer Berg. If you need help and intend to go, you can register here.
Online help is also available here.
One Form Does It All
The process begins with a single document, the Federal Post Card Application, known as the FPCA. Filling it out registers a citizen to vote and requests an absentee ballot at the same time. Applicants need their last U.S. residential address, an identifying number such as a state ID or the final four digits of a Social Security number, and a current overseas address where they can be reached.
Once completed, the form goes to the local election official responsible for the voter’s last U.S. address. Many states now accept the signed form by email, while others still require a paper copy or a physical signature, so it is worth checking the requirements for one’s home state in advance.
Ballots Must Go Out 45 Days Early
Federal law requires that ballots be sent to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before a general election. For the November vote, that means ballots should go out by September 19th, 2026, in two days from now. Most overseas voters choose to receive their ballot electronically, typically by email, since that is far faster than waiting for international mail. Anyone who opts for a paper ballot should plan for significant delivery time in both directions.
Deadlines Vary by State
Every U.S. state sets its own rules for how and when a completed ballot must be returned. Some accept ballots by email or fax, others insist on postal mail only, and states differ on whether a ballot must simply be postmarked by the deadline or physically received by election officials before it counts. The instructions sent along with the ballot, together with the relevant state election office, remain the final authority on these details.
A Backup Option If Time Runs Short
If a requested ballot has not arrived as the deadline nears, voters can turn to the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, a federal fallback that covers federal offices only. Should the regular ballot show up afterward, voters are instructed to fill that one out too and send it in, since only one of the two will ultimately be counted.
Because voter rolls are updated and purged periodically, election officials recommend filing a fresh FPCA every year, and whenever a voter moves, marries, or changes their email address. More information, including state by state deadlines and instructions for citizens who were born abroad and never lived in the United States, is available through the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the official U.S. Department of Defense resource on the topic.
