How to Ensure Your Absentee Vote Is Counted

Absentee voting allows U.S. citizens residing outside the country to participate in U.S. primary and general elections when not able to visit the polls in person to vote. This includes anyone serving in the U.S. Uniformed Services and their family members as well as civilian citizens residing outside the U.S. Here are some tips recommended by the U.S. Department of Defense to make sure your absentee vote gets counted.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Federal Absentee Ballot
• Current mailing address
• Information on current issues or candidates

1. Contact your Unit, Embassy or Organization Voting Assistance Officer if you need help registering or actually voting absentee.

2. Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website (located below under resources) for information on the absentee registration and the voting process. Apply for an absentee ballot using a printed-out copy of the application form, or complete the online version.

3. Verify that your current mailing address is on file with your local election official.

4. Remember to sign and date your application or any election materials.

5. Complete your state's witness or notary requirements. Not all states require a witness or notary.

6. Place a stamp on your ballot or Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

7. Register for your absentee ballot, making sure to request your ballot no later than September. You can make your request as early as January.

8. Mail your ballot. Make sure it is mailed no later than October 15th of the election year.

9. Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. If you don't receive your State absentee ballot in enough time to mail it back by your state deadline and you are overseas, you are allowed to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you provide the correct mailing address, sign and date the form.
• If you need information on current or upcoming elections, you can call the 24-hour recorded service at the Voting Information Center (VIC). The recording provides information on current and future elections.
• Your absentee ballot or application for absentee ballot will not be accepted if the local election office cannot verify your eligibility due to incomplete, incorrect or illegible information.

Resources

• You can find out more information on the absentee registration and voting process at fvap.gov or call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at [phone].
• For a listing of toll-free telephone numbers from many countries to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) offices in Washington, DC can be found at fvap.gov or by phone within the US at 1-800-438-8683, [phone] or DSN 425-1343.