Draft FPCA and FWAB Available for Public Comment

Suggested Updates to FVAP Absentee Voting Forms – Please Provide Your Input!

Draft voter registration/ballot request and back-up ballot forms on Federal Register now.

 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The draft Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) hardcopy paper forms are available for review and comment on the Federal Register until May 28, 2021 at regulations.gov.

 

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires that the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) prescribe the two standard federal forms. Both forms require review and public comment every three years. The FPCA (SF-76), can be used to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and update contact information, while the FWAB (SF-186) serves as a backup ballot if the voter doesn't receive a requested state ballot in time.

 

FVAP leveraged feedback from voters and election officials to suggest updates to the forms to better assist the federal election absentee voting process.  These forms, once updated, will support federal elections and the administration of the UOCAVA through the 2022 election cycle.

 

The revised forms simplify and clarify instructions for voters and include:

  • Consolidation of the overseas citizen voter categories from three to one;
  • Updates to states identified as requiring specific information unique to the state;
  • Clarification of ballot submission instructions (FWAB); and
  • Updates to the FWAB to reduce confusion in the case of special elections.

 

Form usability is an essential part of the redesign process. To help ensure the form is easy and intuitive from a voter's perspective, we ask that you please download and complete it as if you were registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or voting the FWAB.

 

Please provide content, design, or usability comments via the links below. There are two links for each form, the posted notice where formal comments can be submitted, and the download page for the draft form.

 

 

To view the FPCA Federal Register Notice and comment on the draft FPCA form here.

 

To download and view the Draft FPCA Form here.

 

 

To view the FWAB Federal Register Notice here.

 

To download and view the draft FWAB form here.

 

 

Comments and usability feedback should be submitted on the Federal eRulemarking Portal using the links above by May 28, 2021.

 

The DoD cannot receive written comments at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments should be sent electronically to the docket listed above.

 

Please do not send comments directly to FVAP.

 

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For more information on FVAP or assistance with the absentee voting process, visit FVAP.gov, call FVAP at 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 425-1584 (CONUS)/312-425-1584 (OCONUS), or email vote@fvap.gov. Remember, you also can contact your unit or installation voting assistance officers for assistance during any step of the process.
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