Overseas voting calendar for 2027 and 2028

Mark one date in red: the first week of January. Send a fresh FPCA then, both years, and most of the calendar takes care of itself.

The short version

The 2026 midterms were on November 3, 2026. The next presidential election is on Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
Send a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, Standard Form 76) every January. It covers at least the federal elections of the calendar year you send it, and many states want a new one each year [1][3][4].
For any federal election, primaries included, states must send your ballot at least 45 days before Election Day, as long as your request arrived by then [2].
2027 has no regularly scheduled federal elections, but there are governor and legislative races in a handful of states, plus any special elections for Congress [5].
2028 starts fast: presidential primaries and caucuses begin early in the year, so a January FPCA isn't early, it's on time.

Where things stand in November 2026

The midterm ballots are in, and many states are still counting and certifying. If you voted from abroad this fall, now is the time for a quick check:

Track your ballot. Federal law requires states to give UOCAVA voters a free way to check whether their ballot was received [2]. Your state or county website usually has a lookup tool. If something went wrong, find out now, while the details are fresh, rather than in 2028.
Note what you used. Write down which address, email and ballot delivery method worked. You'll want the same details on your next FPCA.
Don't assume you're still on the list. The FPCA you sent for 2026 covers at least the federal elections of 2026 [1]. FVAP's state guides for Iowa and Pennsylvania, for example, both say you need to submit a new FPCA each year and whenever your address changes [3][4]. Treat your 2026 request as expired on December 31.

If you moved country, changed email or changed your name since you last sent an FPCA, that's one more reason to send a new one in January.

The rules that drive the calendar

Three federal rules set the rhythm. Everything else is state detail.

The 45-day rule

Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), as amended by the MOVE Act of 2009, states must send validly requested absentee ballots to overseas voters no later than 45 days before an election for federal office, if the request arrived by then. The Defense Department can grant a state a hardship waiver for a particular election [2].

Work backward from Election Day and the math is simple:

For the general election on November 7, 2028, day 45 falls on September 23, 2028. If your FPCA is on file by then, your ballot should be on its way by that date.
For each primary, count back 45 days from that state's primary date. If your state holds an early presidential primary, that date can land in January.

The 30-day registration floor

UOCAVA also says that in federal elections, states must accept a registration and ballot request from an overseas voter if it arrives at least 30 days before the election [2]. For November 7, 2028, that's October 8, 2028. Many states accept requests later than that. But a request that squeaks in at 30 days leaves very little time for a ballot to travel out and back, especially if your state only accepts returns by mail.

The FWAB safety net

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB, Standard Form 186) must be accepted in all elections for federal office, primaries included [2]. It's your backup if you asked for a ballot on time and it hasn't shown up. If your state ballot arrives later, you can send that too; only one gets counted [2][4].

2027: the off year

Think of 2027 as the quiet season before the Super Bowl of election years. There are no regularly scheduled elections for Congress or the White House [5]. That doesn't mean nothing happens.

State races. The general election date in 2027 is November 2. Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi elect governors, and Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia hold legislative elections for both chambers [5]. Some states hold earlier rounds or local elections on other dates, so check with your election office.

Can you vote in them? It depends on your state and your FPCA box. The FPCA asks whether you intend to return to the US or whether your intent to return is uncertain [1]. That box matters for state and local races. FVAP's Pennsylvania guide, for example, says overseas citizens who intend to return can use the FWAB in all elections, while those whose return is uncertain can use it only for federal offices [4]. Other states draw the line differently, so look up your own state on FVAP.

Special elections. When a seat in Congress opens up mid-term, the state calls a special election. These count as federal elections, and UOCAVA's protections apply [2]. You won't get much warning, which is exactly why a current FPCA on file in 2027 is worth the five minutes it takes.

Local elections. Mayors, school boards, ballot measures. Your eligibility as an overseas voter varies by state, and some of these races fall on dates of their own. Your county election office is the best source.

2028: the big one

January to June: primary season

Presidential primaries and caucuses run state by state, usually starting in the first weeks of the year and wrapping up by early summer. States and parties set the dates, and they move around between cycles. We'll describe them in words rather than guess, because official 2028 calendars weren't settled when we wrote this.

What this means for you:

Send your FPCA in the first days of January 2028. If your state votes early, the 45-day window may already be close by mid-January.
Fill in the party box if you want a primary ballot. Section 5B of the FPCA asks for your political party for primary elections, and many states require one [1]. FVAP's guides for Iowa and Pennsylvania both say you must name the party ballot you want to vote in a primary [3][4]. Our guide to primaries and caucuses from abroad goes deeper.
Caucuses work differently. Where a party uses a caucus instead of a state-run primary, the party sets the rules and absentee options vary.

Summer: the other primaries

Primaries for Congress, governor and state offices often fall on different dates from the presidential primary, anywhere from spring to late summer depending on the state. The same 45-day rule applies to the federal ones [2]. Your January FPCA should cover them, since it covers at least the federal elections of that calendar year [1].

September to November 7: the general election

By September 23, 2028: ballots go out to overseas voters with a valid request on file [2].
Late September to October: watch your inbox and spam folder. If nothing has arrived by early October, contact your local election office, then turn to the FWAB.
Election Day, November 7, 2028: some states count ballots postmarked by Election Day, while others need them in hand by then or shortly after. Check your state's deadline on its FVAP page, and give international mail the benefit of the doubt.

Month-by-month checklist

When	What to do	Why
November–December 2026	Check your midterm ballot was received; note what worked	Fix problems before the next cycle [2]
Early January 2027	Send a new FPCA	Keeps you on the list for 2027 races and specials [3][4]
2027, as announced	Watch for special elections for Congress	Federal protections apply [2]
By late September 2027	Look for your ballot if your state has races on November 2, 2027	Off-year governor and legislative races in some states [5]
First days of January 2028	Send a new FPCA, with party filled in if you want a primary ballot	Early primaries can be weeks away [1]
January–June 2028	Vote in your state's presidential primary or caucus	Dates vary by state and party
Spring–summer 2028	Vote in congressional and state primaries	Separate dates in many states
By September 23, 2028	Your general election ballot should be sent	45-day rule [2]
Early October 2028	No ballot yet? Contact your election office, then use the FWAB	Backup for federal offices [2]
By your state's deadline	Return your ballot	Postmark and receipt rules differ

How to stay ahead without thinking about it

Put a recurring reminder in your phone for January 2 every year: "Send FPCA." Pair it with something you already do, like taking down the holiday lights.
Ask for email or online ballot delivery on the FPCA [1]. It takes international mail out of half the trip.
Bookmark your state's FVAP page. It lists how to send the FPCA (mail, email or fax), how ballots come back and your deadlines. Iowa, for example, accepts the FPCA by mail, email or fax, but overseas citizens outside a hostile fire area must return the voted ballot by mail [3]. Pennsylvania accepts the FPCA by mail or email and wants the ballot back by mail [4].
Update on the go. Moved apartments in Lisbon or switched email providers? Send a new FPCA right away, not just in January.
Enroll in STEP with the State Department. US embassies often post voting reminders and ballot drop-off options before federal elections.

The overseas voting calendar: what to do and when, 2027 to 2028