U.S. Citizens Abroad Urged to Return Absentee Ballots to Embassy by October 4

With the U.S. presidential election approaching, embassies worldwide, including in Nepal, are urging American citizens living abroad to return their absentee ballots by October 4, 2024, if they plan to drop them off at an embassy. Some embassies have different deadlines as well. This deadline ensures that ballots reach local election officials in the United States by Election Day on November 5, 2024.

Citizens are reminded that embassies and consulates are not polling places, and same-day in-person voting is not available outside the U.S. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu has issued an urgent reminder for citizens in Nepal to act swiftly in returning their voted absentee ballots.

Many states require that voted ballots be received by local election officials by the time polls close on Election Day. Therefore, U.S. citizens overseas should have already sent their absentee ballots to their local election officials.

For those who have not received their ballots despite registering and requesting one before their state’s deadline, the embassy advises completing and returning a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), available at www.FVAP.gov. If the regular ballot arrives later, it should also be completed and returned; however, the FWAB will only be counted if the regular ballot does not reach local election officials by the state’s deadline to prevent double counting.

The embassy recommends that those planning to drop off their ballots at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu do so by October 4. Ballots should be addressed to local election officials and placed in a postage-paid envelope or bear sufficient U.S. domestic postage. A ballot box has been placed at the main entrance of the embassy for collecting completed ballots for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch at no charge.

“If you plan to drop your ballot off at the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu to be returned to your local election office, we recommend you do so no later than October 4.  Please ensure your ballot is addressed to your local election officials and is either placed a postage-paid envelope or bears sufficient domestic U.S. postage. If you would like to drop off your completed ballot for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch free of charge, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu has placed a ballot box at Main entrance to collect the completed FPCA and ballot,” said the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu.

If the embassy’s shipment deadline is missed, voters may return their ballots electronically if allowed by their state or via express courier service at their own expense. Ballots sent via express courier do not receive standard postmarks, so voters should confirm delivery by November 5 before payment and shipment. Detailed state voting procedures can be found at www.FVAP.gov.

For those using Nepal’s postal system, it is crucial to include sufficient international postage and allow enough time for delivery. “If using Nepal’s postal system, be sure to include sufficient international postage and allow enough time for delivery. Ballots sent via regular international mail at this point are unlikely to reach local election officials by state ballot receipt deadlines,” the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu advises.