Devin is Project Pengyou’s Community Engagement Manager. This is the first installment in a two-part guide helping Pengyous register to vote while in China.

The first presidential debate has come and gone, and now many people are thinking about the upcoming US election.

For those of us who are out of the country during the big day, you can (and should) still participate by exercising your right to vote. Keep reading for a guide on how to register and vote while you’re abroad.

Step 1: Get Started with a Registration Assistance Program

If you’ll be abroad during the election cycle, you’ll need to submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which requests your write-in ballot. U.S. citizens can submit a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if they are not able to physically go submit their vote where they are registered.

Programs like VotefromAbroad.org, the Federal Voting Assistance Program, and Overseas Vote Foundation are very helpful to get started. I chose to use VotefromAbroad.org, where you can enter your name, birthdate, current residence abroad and US residence, and it will help complete your registration documents for you (see the form below).

Fill out the form and you will be sent an electronic copy via email which you should print out. After glancing over the form to ensure all of the information is correct, sign it, and send it to the address shown on the first page of your instructions.

Step 2: Submit your Ballot Request

When mailing in your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form (the application that will eventually send you the ballot, be sure to check your state’s specific requirements. In my case, I was able to send in my FPCA through a kuaidi service, but you can also send your request in through American embassies or consulates.

It’s that simple! You can double check with your state to confirm your registration here if you are worried about your form being sent on time or incorrectly, or call your local officials.

We hope that all Americans who are able will exercise their right to vote this election. Here’s a short video from our current President for a little encouragement:

Sources: Votefromabroad.org, Travel.state.gov, Federal voting assistance program,