When you’re living abroad or traveling, connecting with the things going on back home can be hard. It’s natural to feel emotionally disconnected if you’re physically disconnected. Especially when it comes to politics, your family’s favorite topic around the holiday table. Plus, you might be trying to escape it all during an election year where the 24-hour melodramatic news cycle doesn’t help ease your anxieties.

Digital nomads and those who can work remotely look to continents like Europe or countries like Canada to flee to just for some peace, deciding to forgo the election entirely. It’s all perfectly understandable, but we can’t forgo our rights because the electoral system was designed to drive us all crazy. And voting is a right. Regardless of your politics or beliefs, you can vote for the candidate and the issues you connect with.

But okay, how can we participate in our country’s future while being a digital nomad or living abroad? Luckily, that answer is simple. Americans have another right to vote from anywhere in the world. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding Absentee Voting

Absentee voting allows Americans to vote while living and working outside the country. All states must offer absentee ballots to oversee voters, though the process can differ slightly from state to state.

Absentee voting allows digital nomads to vote. However, it also serves a greater purpose: protecting the rights of American citizens. Soldiers serving our country abroad, Americans who work overseas, or those who move for family or marriage all use absentee voting to ensure they can still have a say in the country’s future.

Absentee Vs Mail-In Voting

It’s easy to confuse absentee and mail-in voting, as they are often referred to as the same thing. This isn’t necessarily true, and the difference between the two depends solely on the state you’re registered to vote in.

Some states, like my home state of California, have voting by mail as an option for every election. California will automatically send people their ballots in the mail without them having to request one. Californians still have the option to vote in person if they want.

In states where mail-in voting isn’t the norm, voters will have to purposely request an absentee ballot be mailed to them.

Here are the states where you’ll be automatically mailed a ballot WITHOUT having to request one:

Excuse Vs. No-Excuse Absentee Voting

The difference between “excuse” and “no-excuse” absentee voting is straight forward. It shouldn’t generally prevent a digital nomad from being able to vote.

 No-excuse absentee voting simply means that you do not need a reason to request that the state send you a ballot. You can ask for one, and they’ll send it to you with no questions asked.

Excuse absentee voting requires you to list a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Most excuses are simple and valid and are generally accepted without issue. For example, saying that you will not be in the country to physically vote is a good reason for needing an absentee ballot.

Regardless of whether your state offers excuse or no-excuse absentee ballots, you WILL have to request one from the state.

States with No-Excuse Absentee Voting

If you are registered to vote in any of these states, you can request an absentee ballot, no questions asked:

How Digital Nomads Can Become Voters

Digital nomad voters can participate quickly enough in this upcoming and future elections. It just boils down to clear communication. And in many ways, voting is easier than it’s ever been before.

Digital nomads can receive their absentee ballots by mail or email. To do so, they must register or be registered to vote in the US.

After registering to vote, digital nomad voters need to submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Completing this application will put you on a list to receive absentee ballots for all the elections in your state for that year.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program processes all absentee ballots. It can help you register for one with your state and complete an FPCA simultaneously.

You WILL need to complete a new FPCA every year you’re abroad.

Digital nomads should receive their ballots at least 45 days before the presidential election in November. If they haven’t received one at least 30 days before the election, they can complete a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.

Voting and Returning Your Ballot

Because it might take longer for a digital nomad to get their ballots, fill them out, and return them to the US, digital nomad voters must complete their ballots as soon as possible.

The simplest way to return your ballot is to physically mail it. Make sure you have the correct international postage, and the address should be your local or state election office. Alternatively, if you are near a US embassy, you can drop off your ballot there using a postage-paid envelope (which can be found here).

It is important to note that some states allow you to email or fax your ballot to your local election office, but not all states allow this. My home state of California allows me to fax my ballot but not email it.

You can see if your statelets you return your ballot electronically here.

Digital nomads can check the status of their ballot to see if and when it was received by contacting their local election offices here.

If you’re an American citizen who has never lived in the United States, for example, you’re a naturalized citizen because of parentage, you can still qualify for an absentee ballot.

Absentee Voting: Is It Legit? Is It Safe?

Yes.

Yes, it is.

Regardless of what you might have heard in the media, absentee voting is a safe and legitimate way of voting. While there have been claims of widespread voter fraud in years past, there has yet to be any substantiated evidence to prove it.

Digital nomads can feel safe that their votes will be safeguarded, received, and counted fairly.

Why Vote

There are dozens of reasons why you SHOULD vote, but one that many do not think of is…why not vote?

You’re an American, and it’s your right to vote. Should you have less rights just because you’re out of town? I don’t think so.

Voting is powerful. Politicians and lobbyists wouldn’t spend months and millions of dollars campaigning for your vote if voting didn't matter. You have a right to have a say in what direction our country is headed towards.

Absentee voting is legitimate and adheres to the idea that our voices matter, whether we’re close enough to our leaders to speak to them or have to yell because we’re on the other side of the world.

So vote if you can and know that your voice matters.

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