Complete Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

Virginia allows you to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) for registration and voting in primary, special, run-off, and general elections for Federal, State, and local offices and non-candidate ballot issues.*

*Please check the Virginia State Board of Elections to verify which offices, candidates and issues you are eligible to vote for in this election. Citizens residing overseas indefinitely may only be eligible to vote for federal offices in federal elections. Please contact the Virginia State Board of Elections or your local General Registrar’s office in Virginia if you have any question about the elections in which you are eligible to vote in Virginia. Virginia prohibits under felony penalty illegally voting in any election in which you know you are not eligible to vote.

Open Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)

What do I fill in?

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

Block 1: Virginia allows you to use this form for registration.

Block 2: Select the category that describes you.

Block 3: Name (Last, First, Middle)

Block 4: Date of Birth

Your Social Security number is required. If you do not have a Social Security number, write “none”. Virginia will assign a number that will serve to identify you for voting purposes only.

Block 5: Provide your contact information to allow your local election official to follow up if more information is required.

Block 6: If you are using this form to register and wish to vote in primary elections, you must enter your political party affiliation.

Block 7: Complete street address of your Virginia 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: Enter your current mailing address.

Block 9: You must provide your complete Virginia residence address where you last registered and voted if applicable. If you have never voted, please write “I have never voted.” Enter the last day of residency at your Virginia voting residence address only if you have given up that address permanently or have no intent to return. If previously registered in Virginia, your voter registration number may be located using your Social Security number.

Uniformed Service members and their families must provide the service identification number of the member.

Uniformed Service members, Merchant Marine members, and their spouses and dependents must provide the branch of service, and grade or rank of the military member.

Overseas citizens should provide the name and address of their employer (if applicable). Virginia registrants who moved overseas for employment on or after July 1, 1999, may be eligible to vote in State and local elections.

Affirmation: Sign and date in the presence of one witness. The oath on the voted ballot’s return envelope must be witnessed by an adult 18 or older.

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

(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)

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.

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.

• You can track the status of your FWAB on the Virginia Election and Registration Information System.
• Registered Virginia voters can use the FWAB simultaneously as an absentee ballot request (for the current election only) and ballot as long as the completed FWAB is received by the deadline for returning ballots. The FWAB Declaration/Affirmation must contain the residence address where the voter is registered in Virginia, the voter’s current military or overseas address, and the voter's and witness’ signature and date.
• 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.