If you have not yet registered, you should do this immediately, so that you can be sure to receive your ballot and send it back to arrive in your state’s election offices before November 5th.

How can you go about it?

Even if you registered to vote in previous elections, the process is different now than in the past.

That’s because, according to the US Embassy in Bern, new absentee voting laws went into effect in 2012.

Whereas before that year you received your ballots automatically after having registered for the first time, this is no longer the case.

Instead, all US citizens living outside the United States (including in Switzerland) must complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every year if they wish to vote from abroad.

“States are now required to send out ballots 45 days before an election,” according to the Embassy, which means that you should ideally receive it by the end of September.

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely only on postal services to deliver your ballot

“No matter what state you vote in, you can now ask your local election officials to provide your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state),” the Embassy says.

“You can now also confirm your registration and ballot delivery online. Be sure to include your email address on the form to take advantage of the electronic ballot delivery option as this is the fastest and most reliable way to receive your ballot on time.” 

Once you receive and fill out your ballot, how do you send it back?

Find out what your state’s deadline for absentee ballots is and return it in one of these ways:

Local mail

Send the ballot back via SwissPost

US Embassy Diplomatic Pouch

Mail the ballot placed into a second envelope to: U.S. Embassy, CONS/ACS/Voting, P.O. Box, 3001 Bern. for return to the United States.

It must be addressed to your local election officials and have sufficient U.S. postage, or be in a prepaid envelope.
 
Fax, Email, or Internet

Some states permit electronic transmission of completed ballots. Consult the Voting Assistance Guide for options in your state.

Express Courier Service

If time is short, you can use delivery services such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS at your own expense. 

Can all Americans living in Switzerland vote?

If you are US citizen (even if dual — that is, you have obtained Swiss or another citizenship while living abroad), and are 18 years of age or older, then you are eligible to vote in US elections.

This is the case even if have been living outside the United States for a very long time or are the so-called ‘accidental American’ — someone who was born overseas to American parent(s) but has never lived in the US him/herself.

As long as you have an up-to-date US passport, you can vote.

On the other hand, if you are one of tens of thousands of Americans in Switzerland who have renounced their US citizenship, then you obviously can’t request a ballot and vote.
 
READ ALSO: Why Americans in Switzerland renounced their US passport 

Why should you bother with US elections?

That’s an entirely personal call.

If you plan to return to the United States at some point, it is good to have a say in what kind of government, and policies, are in place.

If you are not planning on going back and / or have no interest in how and by whom America is ran, then your vote is probably not as urgent.

The important thing is that you have an option to vote if you wish, and are eligible, to do so.