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FAQs Skip Navigation Thank you for printing our content at www.fvap.gov. Please trammels when to find out the latest information regarding absentee voting. Voting assistance for Service members, their families and overseas citizensReferendumForms and Materials Voting Assistance Guide FAQs Links Contact MENU Search FVAP.gov Home Navigate to the home page Military Voter Absentee Voting Overview Service Information Voter Registration and Ballots Military Spouses Separating fromZippyDutySpareInformation Voting Assistance Guide FAQs Contact OverseasResiderVoter Absentee Voting Overview Voter Registration and Ballots Never Resided in the U.S.SpareInformation Voting Assistance Guide FAQs Contact Voting Assistance Officer UOCAVA Voting Process Training Materials Directives and Guidance Continuity Folder Voting Emphasis Weeks Voter Alerts Service Voting Action Officers Military Recruiter Info VAO of the Quarter Voting Assistance Guide FAQs ContactReferendumOfficial UOCAVA Voting Process Training MOVE Act Waivers Voter Alerts Grant Program Policy Briefs Policy Letters FAQs Contact General Information About FVAP About Absentee Voting About the Laws Reports and Surveys News Outreach Materials Contact Voting GuideReferendumMaterials Navigate to the home page guide appendix faq Share Link to FVAP.gov on Facebook Link to FVAP.gov on Twitter Link to FVAP.gov on Linked In E-Mail FVAP.gov Jump To UOCAVA FPCA and FWAB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about absentee voting: Questions for all UOCAVA voters What is UOCAVA? The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) is the law that extends federal absentee voting rights to Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens. Who is covered under UOCAVA? UOCAVA covers U.S. citizens who are 18 or older AND zippy duty members of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, or vicarious corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; their eligible family members; and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. What is the Federal Post CardUsing(FPCA)? The FPCA is the form for UOCAVA citizens to simultaneously register to vote and request an absentee ballot. It moreover updates their contact information. What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)? The FWAB is an emergency replacement ballot for UOCAVA citizens who didn't receive an absentee ballot from their State in time to participate in the election. Do I have to register to vote? Most States and territories require you to register. Fill out an FPCA to register and request an absentee ballot at the same time. When should I request an absentee ballot? You should send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move. We recommend that you send in an FPCA at least 90 days surpassing the referendum you want to vote in. Do I have to send in a separate using for each election? The FPCA allows you to request an absentee ballot for all federal elections in the timetable year. Depending on your State, you may receive a ballot with local or State offices and initiatives as well (e.g., Governor,MunicipalityCouncil). We recommend that you send in a new FPCA every January and each time you move. Can I vote at the embassy or consulate? No. Elections are run at the State level. You must communicate directly with your State to register, request a ballot, and vote. Most embassies and consulates will help you to fill out the FPCA and FWAB, but they aren't polling places. When will I get my ballot?Referendumoffices are required to send absentee ballots at least 45 days surpassing a federal election. If you asked to receive your ballot by email, it should victorious right away. Mailed ballots will take longer depending on the postal system in the country where you're located. What if I don't get a ballot? If you don't receive an absentee ballot in time to return it to your State, you can use the FWAB as a replacement ballot to vote for federal offices. If your official absentee ballot arrives without sending in the FWAB, fill out and send in the official ballot as well. Your State will count only one.   FAQs for the FPCA and FWAB Do I have to segregate a classification? Yes. This is how you tell the referendum office that you're eligible to vote absentee under UOCAVA. What if none of these classifications wield to me? Military Members: If you are an zippy duty military member (or family member) stationed within your voting jurisdiction, you are not covered under UOCAVA and should follow your State's regular voting procedures. You can use either the National Mail Voter Registration Form (NVRF) or your State's voter registration form. Non-Military: If you do not reside outside of the United States but want to vote by absentee ballot, you must follow the standard absentee voting procedures for your State. You can squint up your referendum office at www.fvap.gov/search-offices. Can my firsthand family members vote absentee? Spouses and children who live yonder from their voting residence can request an absentee ballot using the FPCA. If they currently live where they're registered, they aren't covered by UOCAVA and should vote at the polls or request an absentee ballot equal to State guidelines. Will it stupefy my citizenship if I select "my return is uncertain"? No. Can a U.S. resider who has never lived in the country register to vote and request an absentee ballot? Some States indulge citizens who have never resided in the U.S. to use a parent's voting residence as their own. A list of States that indulge these "never-resided citizens" to vote absentee is misogynist online at FVAP.gov. What if I don't have a social security number or a State issued ID? In the section of the form that asks for spare information, write that you don't have a social security number or a State-issued ID. Does voter registration stupefy my tax status? You can vote for federal offices without a transpiration to your tax status, but voting for non-federal offices may result in State and local taxation. There may moreover be tax implications when waffly your residence from one State to another. We recommend that you seek legal translating when waffly your voting residence. What is my U.S. voting residence address? Your U.S. voting residence write is used to determine where you are eligible to vote absentee. For military voters, it's usually your last write in your State of legal residence. For overseas citizens, it's usually the last place you lived surpassing moving overseas. You do not need to have any current ties with this address. What if someone else lives there now or the house was torn down? Your referendum office only uses your voting residence write to determine if you're eligible to vote in their jurisdiction and which ballot to send you. They won't send anything to that address. What if I don't know my voting residence address? If you can't remember the write where you last resided, we recommend asking family members and checking old records. Your referendum office may moreover be worldly-wise to help you further. Can my voting residence and current write be the same? No. In order to vote absentee, you must be living outside of your voting district. Do I have to requite my current write if I am asking for my absentee ballot by email or fax? Yes. The referendum office needs your current write to personize that you're eligible to vote absentee under UOCAVA. This is expressly important for citizens residing outside of the U.S. What if I don't know my overseas write or duty station? If you do not know your overseas write or duty station yet, provide as much information as you can regarding your overseas write or duty station (e.g., country, city, etc.) in Section 3 of the FPCA and the FWAB.  Also, use theSpareInformation section to explain why you don't have an write yet.  Make sure you provide your email and phone number so the referendum office can contact you with any follow-up questions. Do I have to put my political party? Most States require you to specify a political party to vote in primary elections. This information may be used to register you with a party. Do I have to requite spare information? Some States require spare information to process your application. Go to FVAP.gov to find out what your State needs. Can I sign my FPCA or FWAB electronically? No. You must print and sign your form surpassing sending it to your referendum office. Does it matter what size paper I use? No. Any paper is winning as long the information is legible. How can I send my form? All States will winnow your form by mail, but they vary on email and fax.Trammelsyour State's requirements at FVAP.gov. Do I have to pay for postage? Only if you're using a foreign postal service or a commercial courier service. If you're using U.S. mail, including APO/FPO and diplomatic pouches, then you can use the postage-paid template misogynist on our website. Can I use any envelope to mail my form? Yes. Just print the postage-paid template from FVAP.gov onto whatever zippo envelope you have on hand. What is a postmark? A postmark is an official imprint unromantic on the write side of a stamped piece of mail by the post office. It shows when and where the post office wonted your mail. How do I email my form? Only email your form if your State will winnow it this way.Withoutprinting and signing your form, scan and nail it to an email addressed to your referendum office. Do NOT send your form to FVAP. What is the DoD Fax Service? The DoD Fax Service is for those voters who cannot send their referendum materials directly to their referendum officials. To fax your referendum materials, use the Transmission Cover Sheet found in Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov and fax to: (703) 693-5527, DSN 223-5527 or toll-free from the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to 1-800-368-8683. If you need to send your referendum materials to your referendum official by fax but do not have wangle to a fax machine you can email them to fax@fvap.gov and FVAP will fax your referendum materials for you. This service is fax only. If your State accepts your referendum materials by email you should email them directly to your referendum official. FVAP will not transmit email to email transactions.  How do I trammels the status of my application? Contact your referendum office directly to personize that your form was accepted. FVAP doesn't have wangle to your registration information. Military Voter Absentee Voting Overview Service Information Voter Registration and Ballots Military Spouses Separating fromZippyDutySpareInformation Voting Assistance Guide FAQs Contact OverseasResiderVoter Absentee Voting Overview Voter Registration and Ballots Never Resided in the U.S.SpareInformation Voting Assistance Guide FAQs Contact Voting Assistance Officer UOCAVA Voting Process Training Materials Directives and Guidance Continuity Folder Voting Emphasis Weeks Voter Alerts Service Voting Action Officers Military Recruiter Info VAO of the Quarter Voting Assistance Guide FAQs ContactReferendumOfficial UOCAVA Voting Process Training MOVE Act Waivers Voter Alerts Grant Program Policy Briefs Policy Letters FAQs Contact General Information About FVAP About Absentee Voting About the Laws Reports and Surveys News Outreach Materials Contact Subscribe fb t gd li m www.usa.gov www.defense.gov Privacy and Accessibility Policies For Developers Admin Portal View Desktop Version View Mobile Version × FVAP.gov Website Feedback