Request Registration/Absentee Ballot

The Federal Post Card Application registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for all regularly scheduled Federal elections for the calendar year in which it is submitted. Voters should submit a new application after January 1 of each year to qualify for all upcoming federal elections.

Tennessee only accepts the form as a temporary registration and absentee ballot request. To register permanently, you must complete Tennessee’s Federal Voter Registration Form and submit it along with your FPCA.

You may be already registered to vote. To check, go to Tennessee's voter registration verification website. Even if you are registered to vote, you still need to complete the form to receive an absentee ballot. You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your State requires.

Open Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request

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What do I fill in?

Only the following blocks are required:

Block 1: Select the category that describes you.

Block 2: To vote in primary elections, you must enter your political party affiliation. If you want to change your political party affiliation, submit a completed FPCA indicating your new party preference to the local election official no later than 7 days prior to the election. Political party affiliation is not required if only requesting absentee ballots for general elections.

Block 3: Name (Last, First, Middle)

Block 4: Sex

Race information is requested but not required. Enter the choice that best describes you from the following list: AI = American Indian or Alaskan Native; AP = Asian or Pacific Islander not Native Hawaiian; B = Black, not of Hispanic Origin; H = Hispanic; M = Multi-racial; NH = Native Hawaiian; W = White, not of Hispanic Origin; O = Other.

Date of Birth

Social Security Number. If you have never been issued a Social Security number, write “none.”

Block 5: Recommended but not required. Provide your contact information to allow your local election official to follow up if more information is required.

Block 6: Tennessee allows you to receive the blank ballot by mail or email. Tennessee does not allow you to receive the blank ballot by fax. Please rank your preference of how you would like to receive your absentee ballot. Provide your email address in Block 5. Please ensure that this email address does not block or filter emails forwarded from your county election official. If you do not make a selection, then your local election official will mail your ballot to you.

Block 7: Complete street address of your Tennessee voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 8. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.

Block 8: Complete address where you want your ballot sent.

Block 9: Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this application.

Affirmation: Sign and date. No witness or notary required. If you required assistance completing your FPCA, one
person must witness and sign.

Tennessee allows you to submit the FPCA by mail, email, or fax.

Mail

If you choose to mail, you must mail your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request to your local election official. Find your county or city in the list below to locate your election official.

Open Election Official Address List

Don't know your county? Go to the county finder.

Don't know your zip code? Go to the United States Postal Service website.

Optional: You may be able to use the Postage-Paid Envelope Template.

Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template

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The postage paid envelope may be used if mailed in the U.S. Postal System, which includes all U.S. Military post offices (APO/FPO) overseas or through the diplomatic pouch available at U.S. embassies/consulates. Affix appropriate postage if using international mail. Template must be printed on a number 10 or larger envelope.

Fax

If you choose to fax, it is recommended that you fax the form directly to your local election official (fax numbers can be found on Tennessee State Election website). You may also use our toll-free fax service:

Inside the U.S.? Fax to:
1-800-368-8683
(703)696-2148
DSN 426-2148

Outside the U.S.? Show me a list of toll-free fax numbers

Email

If you choose to email, email the signed, scanned form directly to your local election official. Email addresses can be found on Tennessee State Election website. You may also use our Electronic Transmission Service by sending the form as an attachment to ets@fvap.gov.

Open Fax/Email Coversheet

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• If you have not received your absentee ballot in a timely manner use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.
• In addition to mailing a regular ballot, Tennessee provides an official State blank ballot 45 days before an election if the official ballot is not yet available.
• Tennessee only accepts the form as a temporary registration and absentee ballot request. To register permanently, you must complete Tennessee’s Federal Voter Registration Form available at http://state.tn.us/sos/election/forms/ss-3010.pdf and submit it along with your FPCA.