California Overseas Voting Guide
If California is your last U.S. residence, this is where your ballot comes from — no matter what country you live in now, and however long you have been away. The deadlines below are for the November 3, 2026 federal general election.
California deadlines at a glance
California deadlines at a glance
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026
Register to vote
PassedSee the rules ↓Deadlines as early as
Oct 19, 2026
Received by Oct 19, 2026.
Varies by how you send it — see below
Request your ballot
PassedNo deadlineReturn your voted ballot
PassedSee the rules ↓Fastest — fax
Nov 3, 2026
at 8 PM California time
By fax, received by
Latest — post
Nov 3, 2026
+7 days to arrivePostmarked by
These dates and process details come from the Federal Voting Assistance Program's 2026–27 Voting Assistance Guide, the U.S. Department of Defense's official source for California. Deadlines can change after it is published, so confirm anything you are close to with your local election official.
Registering and requesting your ballot
Request your California ballot
One federal form registers you and requests your absentee ballot. Overseas voters file it again every election year, even if you voted last time.
California asks new registrants for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a state-issued ID or driver's license number.
Register to voteearliest Oct 19, 2026See the rules
Received by Oct 19, 2026
Postmarked by Oct 19, 2026
Receiving your ballot
Once California accepts your form, it sends you your ballot. Federal law required states to send ballots to overseas voters by September 19, 2026 for requests already on file. A request made now is sent once it is processed.
Still waiting for your ballot?
Let us know. We track delivery issues and raise them with election officials.
Returning your California ballot
California accepts a voted ballot by fax, as well as by post. Sending it that way skips international mail, which can take several weeks each way. Both are accepted — the options are below.
Return your ballot according to the instructions that came with it — the envelopes, the signature and any witness or ID requirement are set by your state. If anything is missing or you are not sure what they want, your local election official is the person to ask.
3 ways to return it — choose one
Fax
FastestFax your voted ballot and any forms in your packet to your election office. The number comes with your ballot.
Fax it yourself: a commercial online fax service, such as Dropbox Fax, sends a PDF from your phone or computer.
Emailed your ballot to FVAP in a past election? That service ended in August 2025. Emails to its old address still go through, but nothing is faxed.
By fax, received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM California time
Post
Post your voted ballot in the return envelope from your packet. International postage from your country applies, and delivery takes two to three weeks from most places.
Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026
It must still arrive within 7 days of Election Day.
By courier — DHL, FedEx or UPS
Faster, costs moreA courier takes a few days instead of a few weeks and gives you tracking. It costs more than international postage, and how much depends on the country you are sending from.
Same deadlines as returning by post:
Postmarked by Nov 3, 2026
It must still arrive within 7 days of Election Day.
After you send it
- Check it arrived
California's ballot lookup shows whether your voted ballot came back.
Additional resources
The official places to check your ballot, reach the office that handles it, and read the rules in full.
California overseas voting questions
What is the California ballot deadline for overseas voters?
As early as November 3, 2026 at 8 PM California time. Varies by how you send it.
What if my California ballot has not arrived?
If your ballot has not arrived and your deadline is close, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the federal backup ballot. You can fill it in for federal offices and send it now; if your real ballot turns up later, complete and return that too — only one of them is counted. In California, the backup ballot can also register you to vote, though registration deadlines may fall earlier than ballot deadlines.
Can I email or fax my ballot back in California?
Yes. California accepts a voted ballot by fax or post.
Can I still email my California ballot to fax@fvap.gov?
No. The Federal Voting Assistance Program ended that email-to-fax service in August 2025. Emails to the address still go through without an error, but nothing is faxed to your election office. If you fax, send it to the office yourself: a commercial online fax service, such as Dropbox Fax, sends a PDF from your phone or computer.
When is the California registration deadline for overseas voters?
As early as October 19, 2026.
How do I check that my California ballot was counted?
California offers an online ballot-status lookup where you can check that your ballot was sent and that your voted ballot came back. The link is under Additional resources on this page.
Who is my local election official in California?
Your local election official is the county or municipal office that handles registration and ballots for your last U.S. address in California. You can look up their contact details on our election-office finder.
More questions?
Our team answers questions from overseas voters every day. Ask us anything this page did not cover.
Ready to request your California ballot?
One form registers you and requests your ballot.