Maine
www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/uocava.html
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| Upcoming Elections |
|---|
No Federal Elections Scheduled |
Please mail your voting materials early enough to account for mail delivery times. Check the recommended mailing dates section in Chapter 1 for details.
Important information
- What is UOCAVA?
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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, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and other U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. The law provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for federal offices.
- What is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)?
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The FPCA (Federal Standard Form 76) allows UOCAVA citizens to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This form is also used to update your contact information.
- What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)?
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The FWAB (Federal Standard Form 186) serves as an emergency backup ballot for UOCAVA citizens. If you do not receive your absentee ballot from your state in time to return it to your election official to participate in the election, use the FWAB.
- What is the Prepaid Mail Label 11- DoD?
-
Overseas Uniformed Service members can use this label for general election absentee ballots. It provides free express mail service to your election official for general election absentee ballots. You can request to have a Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to your absentee ballot at Military Postal Office locations (APO/FPO). Keep part of the tracking label to track your absentee ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.
- What is a primary election?
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A primary election is an election held before the general election to determine the candidates that can be placed on the general election ballot.
- I am an American citizen, but I have never lived in the U.S., can I vote in this state?
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A U.S. citizen who has never resided in the U.S., and has a parent or legal guardian who was last domiciled in Maine, is eligible to vote in Maine.
- I am a National Guardsman activated on state orders; does my state afford me UOCAVA privileges?
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Yes.
- How can I check the status of my ballot?
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You can check the status of your absentee ballot here:
https://www1.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/ballot-status.pl - Does my state have any online tools?
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You can see if your state has any online tools available here:
https://www.fvap.gov/maine
Registering and requesting your absentee ballot
Under federal law, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. Be sure to complete a new FPCA each year and every time your address changes.
Complete the following sections of the FPCA
| Section 1 |
Select the category that best describes you. |
| Section 2 |
Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. |
| Section 3 |
Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. |
| Section 4 |
Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number. |
| Section 5 |
A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax". |
| Section 6 |
Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots. |
| Section 7 |
Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. |
- Section 1
-
Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
You must provide your Maine-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers you must enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or Maine-issued ID number." - Section 2
-
Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
- Section 3
-
Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
- Section 4
-
Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.
- Section 5
-
A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
B. If you are enrolled in a political party, then you will receive that ballot automatically for a primary election. If you are not enrolled in a party, enter the name of the party whose ballot you want to receive in Section 6. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for general elections. - Section 6
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Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots.
- Section 7
-
Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.
How and where to submit your FPCA
You can submit the FPCA by mail, email, or fax. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.
Mail your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Mail your FPCA directly to your election official.
Email your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Scan the signed FPCA into your computer. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this package directly to your election official.
Fax your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Fax your FPCA directly to your election official. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet".
To find out the status of your FPCA, contact your election official. Your election official will contact you if your FPCA is not accepted.
Voting your ballot
Once you receive your absentee ballot from your state it must be returned according to the deadlines and requirements in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. For special federal elections, visit FVAP.gov for specific deadlines.
You can submit the state absentee ballot by mail, email, or fax.
Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section.
Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section.
Haven't received your ballot? Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) can be used to register to vote. If you are using the FWAB to register, it must be received by the registration deadline listed in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart.
You can use the FWAB to vote in all elections for federal and state offices as well as ballot measures.
Complete the following sections of the FWAB's voter information page
| Section 1 |
Select the category that best describes you. |
| Section 2 |
Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. |
| Section 3 |
Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. |
| Section 4 |
Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number. |
| Section 5 |
A. Check "Yes" if you would like to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot, otherwise check "No." |
| Section 6 |
Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots. |
| Section 7 |
Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. |
- Section 1
-
Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
You must provide your Maine-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers you must enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or Maine-issued ID number." - Section 2
-
Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
- Section 3
-
Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
- Section 4
-
Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.
- Section 5
-
A. Check "Yes" if you would like to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot, otherwise check "No."
B. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
C. If you are enrolled in a political party, then you will receive that ballot automatically for a primary election. If you are not enrolled in a party, enter the name of the party whose ballot you want to receive in Section 6. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for general elections. - Section 6
-
Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots.
- Section 7
-
Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.
Vote your FWAB
To vote, write in either a candidate's name or political party for each office. You are not required to make a selection for each and every contest.
Maine election law provides for the use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) if three or more candidates have qualified to be listed on the ballot for an office. For a primary election, RCV is used for all federal offices (President, U.S. Senator and Representative to Congress) and members of the state legislature (state senator and representative to the legislature). For general elections, RCV is used only for federal offices. You may rank as many or as few candidates as you would like. Place a number "1" next to the name of the candidate who is your first choice, the number "2" next to the name of the candidate who is your second choice, and so on. For more information, visit https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/.
How and where to submit your FWAB
You can submit the FWAB by mail, email, or fax. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.
Mail your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fold along the dotted line and seal the completed "Official Backup Ballot", do not write on the "Official Ballot" envelope. Insert the sealed "Official Ballot" envelope and the "Voter Information" page into the mailing envelope and mail your FWAB directly to your election official.
Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov.
Email your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Scan the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, into your computer. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this ballot package directly to your election official.
Fax your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fax the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, directly to your election official. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet".
See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FWAB. If you receive the state absentee ballot after transmitting your voted FWAB, you may also vote and return the state absentee ballot. If both are received by the deadline, only the state absentee ballot will be counted.
Local election offices for allSearch Offices
| All | Mailing Address |
|---|---|
| All | Maine Division of Elections 101 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0101 Phone: (207) 624-7650 Fax: (207) 287-5428 Email: UOCAVA.CEC@maine.gov |
