Federal Benefits

Voting Assistance

The system of the U.S. Government depends on the active participation of the citizens in the electoral process. It is not only the right of American citizens to vote, it is their duty to do so. Being overseas certainly does not relieve one of this civic duty but it does make it more difficult. While our friends back home can cast their vote between errands or on the way to work, when overseas one must deal with absentee ballot requests and mailing times back to our various states of residence.

You can vote by absentee ballot, even if you were never registered, from your legal state of residence. For voting purposes, this is the state where you last resided immediately prior to your departure from the U.S. If you never resided in the United States, you can register and vote in the last state your parents resided in before your birth. Oversight of elections is reserved to the several states and the Federal government is not involved. However, there are several things we at the Embassy can do to help citizens vote in the elections held by their home states.

We have information about requesting absentee ballots from each of the fifty states. Remember that every citizen has a right to vote for Federal offices (President, Vice President, Senator, and Congressman.) Many states have liberal laws about letting overseas residents vote in state and local elections, too. To receive this information, send a request to our offices. Provide your mailing address and specify the state in which you will be voting. We will mail you the necessary materials to register (if you haven't already) and to request the absentee ballot.

If your particular state requires that the registration or ballot be signed under oath, the Office of American Services can witness your signature at no charge. Notarial hours are from Monday thru Thursday 1:00 pm to 3:00pm or on Friday between 8am and 10am, (except the last Wednesday of the month or on any American and Kenyan holiday.)

If your request for a ballot is received by local election officials at least 30 days in advance of the election but it does not arrive in time to complete it and mail back, we can provide an emergency write-in ballot for you to get your vote in to be counted.  

Voting in U.S. Elections from Kenya

All U.S. Citizens 18 years or older who are or will be residing outside the U.S. during an election period are eligible to vote absentee in any election for Federal office. Eligibility for State and Federal elections depends upon the laws and regulations of your State of residence in the U.S. The absentee voting process is designed to permit citizens who will be away from their local polling places on Election Day to vote by mail. Absentee voters should request their ballots at least 45 days before the Election Day to allow ample time to process the request and mail the ballot. However if one is applying for both registration and absentee ballot, the FPCA may have to be mailed earlier.

The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is a postage free postcard printed and distributed by the federal government for use by absentee voters. The FPCA serves as a simultaneous registration form and application for an absentee ballot. However, the extent and manner of its use are controlled by State law and sometimes by local procedure. To receive the FPCA or for additional information, you should contact the U.S. Embassy at 011-254-20-375 3704 or E-mail Kenya_acs@state.gov to request the necessary forms. The on-line version of the FPCA is available at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's web site http://www.fvap.gov/ (please follow specific instructions for state-by-state acceptance of online registrations). Ensure that the form is completed, printed out, signed, dated and mailed in an envelope with proper postage affixed when registering on-line.