U.S. Consulate Karachi
Message for U.S. Citizens:
Voting Message
October 10, 2018
In order to vote for the mid-term election to be held on November 6, 2018, all overseas U.S. citizens need to have completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each tine to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.
If you would like to drop off your completed Federal Post Card Application for delivery to the United States via diplomatic pouch free of charge, the U.S. Consulate in Karachi can assist you!
You can always get voting assistance from the Consulate or drop off your unsealed, completed voting forms and ballots, addressed to your local election officials, during the following hours:
Ballot drop-off: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at U.S. Consulate Karachi (Gate 3)
(except U.S. and Pakistani holidays)
Normal transit time from Karachi to the United States is 7 days.
If you have never voted while overseas before, the process is easy – just follow these steps:
- Request Your Ballot: Eligible voters who wish to register to vote via absentee ballot should start the process by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is standardized for use across all States. The FPCA acts as both a registration and absentee ballot request form. This form can be completed online at https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter.
- What happens if you do not receive an Absentee Ballot? Any registered U.S. citizen voter who requested for an absentee ballot by their state but has not yet received it, can vote via returned Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). The FWAB is an emergency backup ballot that can be completed using an online assistant and/or via a PDF at https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fwab2013.pdf. Overseas U.S. citizens without internet access can obtain and submit their FWAB in the consulate consular section during public hours.
- Return Your Completed Ballot: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can do so free of charge at the Consulate during the above mentioned drop-off hours. You will need to bring your ballots unsealed and we will witness you seal the ballot. We will not be able to accept ballots sealed prior to arrival at the Consulate.
Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. If you have any questions about registering to vote overseas, please contact the ACSKarachi@state.gov.
