Complete Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

Ohio allows you to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) for voting in general elections for Federal office. If you are registered and have requested your absentee ballot, feel free to use the FWAB to vote anytime before an election. You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your State requires.

Open Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

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What do I fill in?

Only the following blocks of the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation are required:

Block 1.a: Select the category that describes you.

Block 1.b: Ohio does not allow you to use this form for registration. Do not check this block.

Block 2.a: Name (Last, First, Middle)

Block 2.e: Date of Birth

Blocks 2.f and 2.g: Enter your valid Ohio Driver's License number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, OR your State voter registration number.

Blocks 2.h through 2.j: Recommended but not required. Provide your contact information to allow your local election official to follow up if more information is required.

Block 3.a through 3.e: Complete street address of your Ohio voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 6. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.

Block 4.a: Enter your current mailing address.

Block 6: Fill in the length of time you resided in Ohio immediately before leaving Ohio. (“I was an Ohio resident for ______.”) Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this ballot or application.

Block 7: Sign and date. No witness or notary required.

Once the ballot is complete, fold and place it in the security envelope and seal. Place only the voted ballot in the security envelope and do not write on the security envelope. Insert the sealed security envelope and the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation into the mailing envelope and seal.

Envelope Templates

Open Security Envelope Template

Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template

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The postage-paid envelope may be used 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

Mail

You must mail your back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot to your local election official. Find your county or city in the address list below to locate your election official.

Overseas uniformed service members and their family members with access to Military Postal Service, may use the "Prepaid Expedited Mail - Label 11-DOD." This label is available at APO/FPO locations and can only be used for the general election. It provides expedited mail service up to seven days prior to the election. You can return your ballot with this label attached at any MPO/FPO, American embassy, or consulate. A portion of the label is retained by you for tracking your ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.

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.

• If you receive your State absentee ballot after submitting your Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, fill it out and return it. The State absentee ballot will be counted instead of the back-up ballot if it's received in time.