Skip to content

Military and overseas voters

Military and overseas voters can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the same time using the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). We recommend that you complete and submit this form every year while you are an absentee voter. You will register to vote using your last known US address.

This is the process for overseas and military voters

  1. Complete the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). Provide a phone number and at least one email address where you can be reached, just in case your local election office needs to get in touch with you.
  2. Submit your completed FPCA to your local election office (LEO). You can always mail this form. Some states will also accept emailed or faxed forms. Click here to lookup your state's submission options.
  3. The local election office will verify your eligibility and either accept or reject your FPCA.
  4. If you are eligible to vote, the local election office sends you an absentee ballot at least 45 days before a federal election.
  5. You will complete the ballot and send it back to your your local election office by the deadline.
  6. The election office received and counts the ballot. The voter can check that the ballot was received by contacting their election office.

If your ballot doesn't arrive in time, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a back-up ballot.

  1. Complete the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
  2. Submit your completed FWAB to your local election office (LEO) as soon as possible, and ideally by Election Day. Provide a phone number and at least one email address where you can be reached, just in case your local election office needs to get in touch with you.
  3. If your official absentee ballot arrives, complete it and return this ballot as well. Your local election office will make sure that only one of the ballots is counted.