Mailing Ballots and Election Date Updates

In its role under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works closely with partners at state and local election offices, the United States Postal Service (USPS), the U.S. Department of State (DoS), and within the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide information for voters who may be experiencing international mail disruptions, shifting election dates, or other potential issues with completing and returning a ballot.

Resources for Voters

FVAP is in communication with state election offices, the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) and other federal agencies to bring you up-to-date information on state election date changes and areas with possible mailing delays.  We recommend that you contact your Military Post Office or local post office regarding possible delivery delays before mailing your voted ballot. Check the ballot return options in your state, choose your state in the map.  

This page and the resources below will provide updates and any current information.

Here are some important things to remember:

1. Submitting your Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) early is the best way to help ensure time for the process to go smoothly.
2. Using the FPCA provides Service members, their families, and overseas citizens with an option to receive balloting materials electronically.
3. Using the FPCA early to register and request a ballot allows voters to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a backup ballot, if needed.

Here are some important resources for voters –

• Use our online assistant to complete your FPCA. 
• Use our online assistant to complete your FWAB.
• Fillable PDF forms available here.  
• Locate Your Installation Voting Assistance Offices.
• Locate Your Local Election Officials.
• State Voting Guidelines and Election Dates and Deadlines, click on your state.
• United State Postal Service Alerts.

* Arizona - Online also available. Online submission available if a voter receives instruction from their election official.

* California – To register to vote, voter must mail or fax the FPCA. If already registered, voter can request a ballot by email, mail, or fax.

* Florida, Idaho, South Dakota, and Wisconsin – To register to vote, voter must mail the FPCA. If already registered to vote and using the FPCA to request an absentee ballot, the voter can email, mail, or fax the form.

* Maryland – Online also available. To register to vote, voter must mail the FPCA or use Maryland's online system. If already registered to vote, voter can request a ballot by email, online system, mail, or fax.

* Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah – Online also available.

* New York – If voter emails or faxes the FPCA, voter must also mail the FPCA.

* Texas – Timely faxed FPCA must be followed by a hardcopy mailed FPCA that must be received by the early voting clerk by the fourth business day after the fax. This rule does not apply to an emailed FPCA. Texas strongly recommends using email transmission instead of faxing if you wish to use the fastest delivery method for your FPCA.

 

  Download the FPCA Submission Method Map here:

 

 

* Alabama – Online also available. Online only if voter requested absentee ballot by email/online and voter is located outside the territorial limits of the U.S.

* Alaska - Fax ballot only if voter requested to receive ballot by fax or by online delivery.

* Arizona – Online also available. Online submission available if a voter receives instruction from their local election official.

* California - Fax only if voter is overseas or activated within 6 days of the election.

* Colorado and Nevada - Online also available.

* Florida - Fax only if the voter is outside the U.S.

* Iowa – Mail, email or fax only for overseas Uniformed Service members.

All other UOCAVA voters must submit ballot by mail. Voters located in a hostile fire area may email or fax ballot.

* Missouri – Email or fax only if located in a hostile fire area.

* Nebraska – Email and fax available for those voters who have the prior approval from their local election official.

* New Jersey – Voters can email or fax their ballot/FWAB, but they must also still mail their ballot/FWAB.

* North Carolina – Online available for state ballot submission only.

* Oregon – Additional forms are required if voter is voting on local offices or ballot measures and voter is submitting the ballot by email or fax. Forms can be found at www.oregonvotes.gov/myballot.

* Rhode Island - Fax only if voter requested absentee ballot by fax.

* Texas – Fax only if located in a hostile fire area.

 Download the Ballot/FWAB Submission Method Map here:

 

 

FAQs for Voters Residing Overseas

 Question 1. What do I do if my country is listed as not processing international mail and my state only permits mail-in ballots?

1. If you received your blank ballot electronically or completed a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, but find your country's postal operations are disrupted, we encourage you to consider the following steps:
2. Determine the operating status of the nearest embassy or consulate as they will accept your completed ballot package for return to the U.S. via diplomatic pouch.  The completed ballot package must include U.S. postage on the outer envelope unless it has a postage paid indicia such as the one on the envelope template located here.
3. If you are not in proximity to an embassy or consulate, but a Military Post Office on a DoD installation is nearby, you may be able to coordinate with them to drop off your completed voted ballot package for return through the Military Postal System.  Again, using the envelope template will afford you the opportunity to return this postage free.
4. You may also check the status of commercial carriers, if election officials in your state will accept completed ballots sent by private carrier.  If this option is available, please keep in mind that the additional shipping fees are your responsibility.

Question 2.  What do I do if I'm unable to contact my election official to request an electronic blank ballot?

A.  If you have already requested a ballot, but it is hasn't arrived, please complete a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot and follow the return instructions.  Keep in mind a few states may allow you to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot even if you haven't already applied for a ballot.  If your official residence is in a state that only permits postal return, please consider the options outlined in Question 1 above.

Question 3. How do I find the contact information for my U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

        A. Go to this Map of U.S. Embassies and consulates or go to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate Email Addresses section in our Voting Assistance Guide.