If you plan to vote in the November 2020 election, it is crucial to act promptly. Voters are encouraged to return their ballots without delay. The U.S. Department of State emphasizes that "U.S. embassies and consulates are not polling places; same-day in-person voting is not available outside the United States." However, assistance is available for requesting and returning absentee ballots.
Many states require that voted ballots reach local election officials by the close of polls on Tuesday, November 3. The Department of State remains committed to assisting overseas voters. Instructions for voting from Serbia can be found on their website under "Voting: Fewer Than 50 Days Until the November 2020 Elections!" For general information on overseas voting, resources are available at the Department of State’s website or FVAP.gov.
For those who have registered but not received a ballot, completing and returning a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot is recommended to ensure votes are counted by state deadlines. If the regular ballot arrives later, voters should complete and return it as well; only one will be counted if both are received.
The U.S. Postal Service advises mailing completed ballots before Election Day and at least one week prior to state deadlines. Ballots must be received at the Embassy no later than October 12, 2020, to allow processing time between systems. Late arrivals may miss counting deadlines.
Voters can drop off ballots at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade during working hours using either a U.S. postage-paid envelope or one with domestic U.S. postage addressed to local election officials. Valid photo ID is required upon submission.
In case of missing shipment deadlines through the embassy, voters might consider using commercial express courier services like FedEx, UPS, or DHL or return ballots electronically if permitted by state rules.
Returning ballots via international mail requires sufficient postage and time allowance for delivery; late submissions risk missing state deadlines.
The Department encourages spreading awareness about overseas voting through social media using #ProudOverseasVoter.
For assistance or inquiries, contact American Citizen Services at BelgradeACS@state.gov or reach out directly to the Federal Voting Assistance Program via Vote@FVAP.gov or toll-free numbers from various countries.
Online registration confirmation and ballot delivery details can be accessed through FVAP's website at www.FVAP.gov.