Voting in U.S. Elections from Hungary

Last Updated on 04/20/2012

• Attention U.S. citizen voters:
  The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) recommends that all citizens submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to their local election official in January of each year and every time they change their e-mail or mailing address.   To register to vote in your jurisdiction, please follow the instructions on the FVAP web site.
  
  Additional information - We want your feedback!  If you would like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with the absentee voting process, please contact FVAP: 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, or at vote@fvap.gov.  Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed on the Toll-free International Phone Numbers page. 
  
  The Voting Assistance Officer at U.S. Embassy Budapest is also always available to answer questions about absentee voting.  If you have questions about this project, or about voting, please contact the voting assistance officer at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest at +36 1 475 4400, or send an e-mail to VoteBudapest@state.gov.

American citizens can vote by absentee ballot while overseas. Listed below are a few basic procedures on how you can get ballot or register to vote.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program website has an Automated Online Ballot Wizard.  This user-friendly online resource helps you complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), and automatically selects the correct mailing address for your local election officials.

The FPCAs can be mailed postage-free through the diplomatic pouch when mailed in an envelope printed with the postage-paid envelope template available in the Consular Section or on the FVAP website. Please keep in mind that the regular absentee ballot request and receipt deadlines apply - so take into account that mailing via pouch will take additional time. A few states accept faxed FCPAs - the Voting Assistance Guide indicates which ones do and give the requisite fax number. The Consular Section also has copies Federal Post Card Applications on hand for those who do not have Internet access.

If you do not receive the regular absentee ballot that you previously requested, Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWABs) are also available on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website. Some states are also making these available to voters registered to vote overseas via fax and e-mail.  Many states are participating in an Electronic Voting System, which allows voters to download a blank write-in ballot for their state.  FWABs are generally restricted to general and federal office elections (states have different acceptance policies) and the FWABs must be received by the regular absentee ballot deadline for your state.

The Embassy cannot advertise partisan meetings or partisan fundraisers.  If there is a partisan meeting, after which or before which there is nonpartisan voter registration, the Embassy can advertise the non-partisan voter registration portion.

If you have questions about voting, please contact the voting assistance officer at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest at +36 1 475 4400 or send an e-mail to VoteBudapest@state.gov.  You may also send an e-mail to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at vote@fvap.ncr.gov, or contact them via a toll-free telephone number for Hungary, 06-800-15007.