See Also:

      ► Absentee Voting - Citizens living inside the U.S.

      ► Absentee Voting - Uniformed Service Members & Their Families 

Registering To Vote & Requesting an Absentee Ballot:
     The Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) covers US citizens residing overseas. UOCAVA voters can follow the same procedures to register to vote and request absentee ballots as anyone else, but have extra options. 
All options are listed and explained below.

Ways to Register to Vote (Available to ALL Voters):

     ► In Person

     ► By Mail

     ► By the Online Voter Registration Form 

Ways to Register to Vote (UOCAVA Voters ONLY):

     ► By the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

     ► Through the Overseas Vote Foundation 

Ways to Request an Absentee Ballot (Available to ALL Voters):

     ► By Phone

     ► In Person

     ► By Mail

     ► By the Online Absentee Ballot Request Form 

Ways to Request an Absentee Ballot (UOCAVA Voters ONLY):

     ► By the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)

     ► Through the Overseas Vote Foundation 

     UOCAVA voters have the option of applying for voter registration and requesting absentee ballots on one form called the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which may be obtained at www.fvap.gov, the web site of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). Another avenue similar to the FVAP is the Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF).  OVF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to assisting overseas voters.  Absentee requests from these sources will be effective for all elections through the next regularly scheduled general election.  UOCAVA Voters can also indicate their overseas status when completing the Online Voter Registration Form and the Online Absentee Request Form, and the same privileges would apply.

     It is vitally important for voters to request absentee ballots as early as possible before an election.  Equally important is to keep the local election official's office apprised of any address changes once a request is made.  Absentee ballots that are returned undeliverable to the elections office because of a bad address automatically cancel the voter's absentee request, and the voter must make a new request providing the correct address.

     In a general election, an overseas ballot will be counted for all offices if it is received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If an overseas ballot is received after 7 p.m. on Election Day but within 10 days after the election, it will be counted for federal offices only, as long as the ballot is postmarked no later than Election Day.

     In most cases, if absentee requests are made early enough, mailing absentee ballots is not a problem; however, due to uncontrollable circumstances, some UOCAVA voters living overseas have another option.

Optional Emailed/Faxed Absentee Ballots for UOCAVA Voters Only:
     Overseas voters (those with an APO, FPO or foreign address only, not Hawaii, American Samoa, etc.) may have absentee ballots faxed or emailed, if there is a problem with mail.

     Ballots can be returned by fax, but NOT by email.  Returning faxed ballots are immediately placed in secrecy envelopes without handling.  Only the Voter's Certificate, which must be signed and dated, is examined.

     We encourage all UOCAVA voters to include their email addresses on any forms or correspondence, and to update them along with mailing addresses whenever they move. The most important thing to remember is to notify the elections office of address changes so you don't jeopardize your active voter registration status, and email is the best way.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot:

     The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot is basically a back-up or emergency ballot used in the event that the voter does not receive their requested regular absentee ballot in time for it to be voted and returned to the local election official to be counted.  If the voter does not have access to the hard copy, it is available online at the FVAP web site at www.fvap.gov or at the Overseas Vote Foundation.

     Additional information for UOCAVA voters is available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program.  They can be reached toll-free at 1-800-438-8683, by fax at      1-800-368-8683, by email at vote@fvap.gov, or on the web at www.fvap.gov.

State Write-In Absentee Ballot:

     No earlier than 180 days before a general election, an overseas voter may also request a state write-in absentee ballot. In the request the voter must indicate that due to military or other contingencies that preclude normal mail delivery, the voter cannot vote a regular absentee ballot during the normal voting period.