Information for Voting in U.S. Elections for U.S. Citizens Abroad
U.S. Embassy Vientiane is accepting absentee voter registration and ballots to mail to the United States.
All U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download.
Returning Your Completed Voting Materials: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials by mail, you can do so through international mail, professional courier service, or through the Embassy’s postal service.
If you are sending your ballot through the Embassy, you can drop off your ballot in person at the Embassy’s entrance for consular clients Monday through Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., except on holidays. Ballots must be placed in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient U.S. domestic postage (NOTE: postage from Laos to the United States is not required using this method). Please note that it can take up to four weeks for mail to reach its destination if sent through the Embassy. All overseas U.S. citizens are advised to submit their forms and ballots accordingly.
Printable postage-paid return envelopes can be found on the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website here: https://www.fvap.gov/eo/overview/materials/forms. Please allow at least two weeks for your voting documents to arrive at the district office from the date they are received at our Embassy or Consulate.
The following states have elections in the next 90 days:
June 2020:
June 20: **Louisiana (P)
June 23: **Kentucky (P,S); Mississippi (State Primary Runoff); **New York (P,S); North Carolina (Federal Primary Runoff); South Carolina (State Primary Runoff); **Virginia (S)
June 30: Colorado (S); Oklahoma (S); Utah (S)
July 2020:
July 7: **New Jersey (P,S)
July 14: Alabama (State Primary Runoff); **Maine (S); Texas (State Primary Runoff)
August 2020:
August 1: Virgin Islands (T)
August 4: Arizona (S); Kansas (S); Michigan (S); Missouri (S); Washington (S)
August 6: Tennessee (S)
August 8: **Hawaii (S)
August 11: **Connecticut (P,S); Georgia (State Primary Runoff); Minnesota (S); Vermont (S); Wisconsin (S)
August 18: Alaska (S); Florida (S); Wyoming (S)
August 25: Oklahoma (State Primary Runoff)
August 29: Guam (S)
P- Presidential Primary; S- State Primary; D- District Primary; T- Territory Primary
** Denotes a recent change in date
Please note several of these election dates may be subject to change due to the current COVID-19 virus. Stay up to date with your state’s primary election dates at this website: www.FVAP.gov/guide/appendix/state-elections.
Update on Absentee Voting Changes Related to COVID-19
FVAP is working closely with state election offices, the Military Postal Service Agency, the Department of State, and other federal agencies to bring you up-to-date information on state election date changes and mailing delays. The FVAP.gov/COVID-19 page will provide updates and links to state-specific COVID-19 election impacts. To register and request your ballot from home, fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) using FVAP’s easy online assistant.
FVAP recommends U.S. citizens overseas who have recently changed their address to send in a new FPCA to ensure receipt of absentee ballots for all federal office elections in this election year.
Have Questions? If you would like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program, or need help with the absentee voting process, please go to FVAP.gov or email vote@fvap.gov. You may also direct questions to the Embassy’s Voting Assistance Officer at +856 2148 7000 or votevientiane@state.gov.
Actions to Take
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Laos.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance
- U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Laos
+856 (0)21 487 000
Email: conslao@state.gov
la.usembassy.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 - Laos Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook.
