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Your vote counts, even in Beijing!

According to the US Embassy in Beijing, many elections for the house and senate have been decided by a margin smaller than the number of ballots cast by absentee voters. Additionally, all states are required to count every absentee ballot as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline.

To request your ballot, complete a new Federal Post Card Application which is accepted by all local election officials in all US states and territories. The form can be completed online at FVAP.gov, and depending on your state regulations you can return the FPCA electronically or by mail. The US Embassy in Beijing will forward your ballot requests to the US on your behalf.

Every state has different deadlines and some states have already cast their ballots for the 2016 presidential primary. However it's not too late to exercise your right this year!

Democrats Abroad, the official Democratic Party arm for Americans living outside the US, allows expats to vote in the presidential primary through March 8. Democrats Abroad is recognized by the Democratic National Committee as equivalent to a state-level organization and awards 17 delegates in the democratic presidential primary.

Democrats Abroad will hold voter registration and voting in Beijing and Shanghai on March 5 and 6 from noon to 6pm. Beijing Democrats can head to The Bookworm in Sanlitun, and Shanghai Democrats can do the same at The Camel. Bring your passport with you.

On the Republican side, Republicans Overseas is very active in fundraising and has a chapter in Hong Kong but is not recognized by the Republican National Committee and awards no delegates in the primary election. Republicans and those of other parties should stick with their home state for this primary season, and look into state-specific voting procedures for the general election.

Timetable of Presidential Primaries

Date

State

March 1

Alabama, Alaska Republican Caucus, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia

March 5

Kansas, Kentucky Republican Caucus, Louisiana, Maine Republican Caucus, Nebraska Democratic Caucus

March 6

Maine Democratic Caucus, Puerto Rico Republican Primary

March 8

Hawaii Republican Caucus, Idaho Republican Primary, Michigan, Mississippi

March 12

District of Columbia Republican Convention, Northern Mariana Islands Democratic Convention

March 15

Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Northern Mariana Islands Republican Caucus, North Carolina, Ohio

March 19

Virgin Islands Republican Caucus

March 22

Arizona, Idaho Democratic Caucus, Utah

March 26

Alaska Democratic Caucus, Hawaii Democratic Caucus, Washington State Democratic Caucus

April 5

Wisconsin

April 9

Wyoming

April 19

New York

April 26

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

May 3

Indiana

May 7

Guam

May 10

Nebraska Republican Primary, West Virginia

May 17

Kentucky Democratic Primary, Oregon

May 24

Washington State Republican Primary

June 4

Virgin Islands Democratic Caucus

June 7

California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota

June 14

District of Columbia Democratic Primary