Request Registration/Absentee Ballot

The Federal Post Card Application permanently registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for all federal elections held through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. If you indicate your intent is not to return to the United States iin Block 1 on the FPCA, your application will serve as a temporary registration only. If you submit your FPCA by the 20th day prior to the election, you will receive a full ballot. FPCAs received after this date will be issued a ballot for federal contests only.

You may be already registered to vote. To check, go to Texas'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. Political party affiliation is not required if only requesting absentee ballots for general elections.

Block 3: Name (Last, First, Middle)

Block 4: Date of Birth

Your valid Texas Driver's License number OR personal identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety is required for voter registration. If you do not have either of these numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not possess any of these identification numbers, you must State that in Block 9.

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: Texas allows you to receive the blank ballot by mail or email. Please rank your preference of how you would like to receive your absentee ballot. Provide your email address in Block 5. 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 Texas voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 9. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.

Block 8: Complete address where you want your ballot sent, usually where you are located now.

Block 9: In addition to mailing a regular ballot, Texas provides a State Write-In Absentee Ballot to any voter unable to vote in the regular absentee voting process due to military contingencies. You must request this ballot 180 or less days before the election. If you submitted a Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form more than 180 days before the election, you must make another request for the special State write-in ballot. To request it, write in Block
9: “Special State Write-In Ballot.”

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

Affirmation: Sign and date. No witness or notary required.

Texas allows you to submit the FPCA by mail, email, fax or common/contract carrier.

Mail

If you choose to mail your FPCA, you must mail it directly 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 your FPCA, it is recommended that you fax the form directly to your local election official. Fax numbers can be found at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections. You
may also use the DoD Electronic Transmission Service to fax your FPCA. To use the Electronic Transmission Service, complete the Fax/Email Coversheet*  and fax the coversheet along with your form to:

Inside the U.S.? Fax to:
1-800-368-8683
(703) 693-5527
DSN 223-5527

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

Email

You may choose to email this request. It is recommended that you email the signed and scanned form directly to your local election official (email addresses can be found on Texas Election website).  You may also use our Electronic Transmission Service by completing the Fax/Email Coversheet* and sending both forms as attachments to ets@fvap.gov.

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• Want to return your voted ballot by fax or email? Texas allows you to return the voted ballot by fax, if you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty overseas, or the spouse or dependent of the member, and you are casting the ballot from an area in which members of the Armed Forces are eligible to receive hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay, or that has been designated by the President of the U.S. as a combat zone. See Step 2 for instructions.
• You may submit the FPCA for ballot request and temporary registration by the ballot request deadline. 30 days after you submit your FPCA, you will also be registered permanently without any further action by you. Permanent registration will allow you to vote in person at the polls.
• 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, Texas provides a State Write-In Absentee Ballot to any voter unable to vote in the regular absentee voting process due to military contingencies. You must request this ballot 180 or less days before the election. If you submitted a Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form more than 180 days before the election, you must make another request for the special State write-in ballot. To request it, write in Block 6: “Special State Write-In Ballot.”