The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act Overview
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA. UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services the Merchant Marine, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their family members, and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. This Act provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for these citizens.
Sense of Congress Regarding the Importance of Voting
“(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that each person who is an administrator of a Federal, State, or local election—
(1) should be aware of the importance of the ability of each uniformed services voter to exercise the right to vote; and
(2) should perform that person’s duties as an election administrator with the intent to ensure that—
(A) each uniformed services voter receives the utmost consideration and cooperation when voting;
(B) each valid ballot cast by such a voter is duly counted; and
(C) all eligible American voters, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, the language they speak, or the resources of the community in which they live, should have an equal opportunity to cast a vote and to have that vote counted.
(b) Uniformed Services Voter Defined.—In this section, the term ‘uniformed services voter’ means—
(1) a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 101 (a)(5) of title 10 United States Code) in active service;
(2) a member of the merchant marine (as defined in section 107 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C.
1973ff–6)); and
(3) a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) who is qualified to vote.”
--Pub. L. 107–107
To view the Act in its entirety, go to The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7).
Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 1000.04, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
This DoD Directive defines the responsibilities of the Federal Voting Assistance Program and provides direction to DoD components and other Federal agencies in carrying out their responsibilities under UOCAVA.
To view the Directive in its entirety, go to DoD Directive 1000.04 (Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7).