How to vote in U.S. elections while living in Costa Rica

Start with your election office

The State Department’s overseas-voting guidance says most eligible U.S. citizens age 18 or older abroad can vote absentee in federal elections. State and local participation depends on the state and the voter’s circumstances.

Begin early enough to resolve registration questions and delivery problems. Keep your local election office’s contact details with the relevant state instructions, rather than relying on a social-media calendar. The registration deadline, ballot-request deadline and completed-ballot deadline may be different.

A simple tracker should show the action, the official deadline, the permitted submission method and the date you received confirmation.

Keep your voting address and delivery address separate

The Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA, asks for both your U.S. voting address and your current mailing information. For overseas citizens, its instructions generally identify the voting address as the last place you lived before moving abroad. You do not need current ties to that address, and the form says not to use a P.O. box in that field.

The address used to determine your precinct is not where the form says your voting materials will be sent. Enter the current delivery and contact information in the appropriate fields. If your circumstances do not fit the standard instructions, ask the election official how to complete them.

Do not choose a state simply because it is where someone can receive mail for you.

Submit a complete request and confirm receipt

The current FPCA combines voter registration, ballot requesting and contact updates. Complete the applicable identity fields, select the status that accurately describes you, check state-specific requirements and sign it. Download the current form instead of reusing an old copy saved years ago.

The State Department recommends sending a new FPCA annually and after relevant changes. Its advice to act at the start of the year or at least 45 days before an election is a planning recommendation, not a replacement for your state’s legal deadlines.

Keep a copy and confirm receipt with the election office. If something needs correction, make the change through the method the office specifies and record its response.

Plan how the completed ballot gets back

Receiving a blank ballot electronically does not establish that your state accepts an electronically returned voted ballot. Check the separate rules for requests, blank-ballot delivery and completed-ballot return.

If paper return is required, leave time for printing, signatures, envelopes and international transport. Confirm the official delivery address and whether the deadline is based on receipt or another specified event. If considering embassy forwarding, check the U.S. Embassy in San José’s current arrangements and lead time before making the trip.

After sending the ballot, use the state’s tracking method or contact the election office. A courier’s delivery notification and an election office’s acceptance confirmation answer different questions.

Know the backup option

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, is a backup when your regular absentee ballot does not arrive in time. Check the state instructions and whether prior registration and a ballot request are required. Follow the form’s directions for the voter-information page, anonymous ballot and return envelope.

If the regular state ballot arrives after you sent the backup, the FWAB instructions say to return the state ballot too and note the earlier backup submission. The election official counts only one. Ask the office if you are unsure how to identify the prior submission without marking identifying information on the anonymous ballot.

Keep the tax question precise

52 U.S.C. § 20309 protects tax residence and domicile from being changed by exercising the federal overseas-voting rights covered by that law. It does not decide every state-tax question arising from your other ties or activities.

If you are also working through a state-tax departure, discuss that separately with your adviser, including any state or local voting eligibility question. Use accurate information on both sets of records.