The private charter flight organized by Envoy from Vientiane to Frankfurt, originally scheduled to depart on September 30 and then rescheduled for October 1 has been canceled due to a lack of paid bookings. Please direct any inquiries regarding this flight to Envoy as the Embassy does not have any additional information.
Voting from overseas is easy and free, but it is important that you start now!
Be an Active Voter by taking the necessary steps to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections! U.S. citizens living overseas are entitled to vote absentee, and the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane can help you submit your ballot for the elections this November. If you have not registered with your state yet, please check FVAP.gov today to learn about your state’s registration process and deadlines for requesting and submitting your ballot.
Ballots mailed from overseas should be sent as soon as possible upon receiving the ballot. If you are sending your ballots to the U.S. by using the U.S. Embassy mail system, then it is recommended that ballots are received by the U.S. Embassy Vientiane by Friday, October 1, 2020. However, if you miss this deadline, we will continue to accept and send any and all ballots that voters wish to submit, regardless of the date.
If you have never voted while overseas before, it’s not too late. The process is easy — just follow these steps:
1) Confirm your Voter Registration with your State: Some states require absentee voters to register annually, so you may need to re-register. Go to FVAP.gov to connect to your state’s voter portal to register to vote, request a ballot, and more. Once you confirm your registration, follow a few simple steps to vote in the 2020 U.S. elections:
2) Request Your Ballot: Most states provide the option to request ballots through their state election portals, which you can easily access viaFVAP.gov. You can also choose to complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The completion of the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. FPCA forms that are correctly filled out and include a signature and date are accepted by all local election officials in every U.S. state and territory. FVAP’s easy online assistant can assist you with completing the FPCA.
Whether you request your ballot through your state’s portal or the FPCA, we encourage you to select the option for receiving your ballot electronically (by email, internet download, or fax) when available. This is the fastest way for you to get your ballot and ensures you have it in time to return a completed form before your state’s deadline.
3) Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and states generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. Most states allow you to confirm your ballot delivery online.
4) Return Your Completed, Signed Ballot: 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, then you can do so free of charge at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Place your ballots in postage paid return envelopes or in envelopes bearing sufficient domestic U.S. postage, and address them to the relevant local election officials. You can find postage-paid envelopes to print on the FVAP website. (NOTE: postage from Laos to the United States is not required using this method).
U.S. citizens may drop off their voting documents at the U.S. Embassy Vientiane (Kilometer 9, Thadeua Road) in the voting box located at the Consular security entrance weekdays between the hours of 08:00 A.M to 04:30 P.M., excluding U.S. and local holidays. Once received, items will be sent via diplomatic pouch to be delivered to your district office.
Envelopes will be mailed within one week after receipt by the U.S. Embassy. Once received, please allow two to four weeks for delivery to the United States. You should allow for additional time for your ballot to reach its final destination in the United States.
Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov.
Have Questions? Please contact U.S. Embassy Vientiane’s Voting Assistance Officer at +856 2148 7000, or at votevientiane@state.gov.
You can get in-person assistance from our Embassy Voting Assistance Officers Tuesdays and Thursdays from 08:00AM to 11:00AM, except holidays. No appointment needed.
