Q. Who can vote in US elections?

In order to participate in US elections, one must be a US citizen aged 18 or older and be registered to vote. There is a provision to submit an absentee ballot for those absent from their voting residences on election day. Each state has a different registration process and deadline, but to vote absentee in federal elections (Congress, Senate, and Presidential) you must register using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Please visit

FVAP.gov to register, request an absentee ballot, and obtain more information.

Q. Can I vote in person at the US Embassy or at the US Consular Agency on election day?

No. Neither the US Embassy nor the US Consular Agency are polling places. You must first register to vote in the United States and then request an absentee ballot to vote from overseas. We strongly recommend you act as soon as possible if you have not already registered to vote in the state of your current or last residence in the United States. Our website

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/voting.html has more detailed information about absentee voting while abroad.

Q. What is the deadline to register to vote and return my absentee ballot?

Voting deadlines are determined by each state, or territory, so you’ll need to determine the deadline for the election in which you will be participating. Absentee voting deadlines in some states are based on the postmark date of the absentee ballot. In other states, deadlines are based on when the ballot arrives at the voting office. In most states it is possible to vote in person prior to the day of elections. The voting assistance guide available at

www.FVAP.gov/guide provides information on voting guidelines, organised according to state. You can simply click on the state or territory of interest for up to date information on voting deadlines and absentee ballot requests.

Q. How do I return my voter registration, absentee ballot request, and ballot? Do I need to put postage on my election materials?

You can send your voter registration, absentee ballot request, and ballot via international mail or courier service. You are responsible for paying the appropriate postage or courier fee. You can also drop off your ballot at the embassy in Kingston, the consular agency in Montego Bay, or the consular agency in the Cayman Islands. Please review the deadlines for your state. We recommend you return your ballot by October 11 for the 2022 general election.

If you are dropping off your ballot at the US Embassy or the US Consular Agency, please use a postage paid envelope since your materials will be sent through diplomatic pouch to the US postal service. If you do not have a postage paid envelope, a free envelope for returning election materials is available for printing at

www.fvap.gov/eo/overview/materials/forms (US postal service stamps are not required if you use a postage paid envelope). If you do not have a postage paid envelope, you can affix US postage to your voting materials. After you have placed the ballot and other materials in a sealed envelope with proper postage, you may drop them off at the following locations:

The US Embassy consular entrance at 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 between 7:15 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except US and Jamaican holidays.

US Consular Agency Montego Bay at Whitter Village, Suite EU1, Rose Hall, St James, between 9:00 am and noon, Monday to Friday, except US and Jamaican holidays.

US Consular Agency Cayman Islands at Smith Road Center, Unit 202B, Grand Cayman between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except US and Cayman holidays.

Q. How do I vote in a primary election? When is my state’s primary election?

The Federal Voting Assistance program (

FVAP.gov) website has a listing of primary elections by state and territory. The primary election dates vary widely by state, with some states as early as May 3, 2022 (Indiana and Ohio). The primaries for other states which many Jamaican residents call home include Georgia, May 24; New York, June 28; and Florida, August 23, 2022. To ensure your ballot is counted, please be careful to meet the submission deadlines for your state. See the website at this link for specific information. www.fvap.gov/guide/appendix/state-elections

You can find more information about American citizen services on our website jm.usembassy.gov/. Keep on top of US Embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/USEmbassyJamaica/ and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.