Election Tips from FVAP for October 22, 2010

COUNTDOWN: 11 DAYS TO THE ELECTION- TIME IS RUNNING SHORT!

Voters: Haven’t Received Your Ballot? Head to www.FVAP.gov now to fill out a ballot. Many States have absentee ballot websites that allow voters to mark their ballots, and then print, sign and return by mail, email, fax or online delivery system where allowed by State law. More information can be found on the Electronic Voting Systems Fact Sheet.

Additionally, all voters can use our Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) automated backup ballot assistant to vote for Federal candidates. This ballot is accepted by all States from any overseas or military voter who has registered and requested a ballot for the November General Election. If you receive your State ballot after submitting the FWAB, vote and return it as well. If both ballots are received by the deadline, only the State ballot will be counted.

  • States that require absentee ballots to arrive prior to Election Day: Mississippi*, North Carolina.
  • States that require absentee ballots to be postmarked prior to Election Day: Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, New York, North Dakota, Ohio**, Pennsylvania, Utah.


*Stateside Uniformed Service Members, Their Families, and Overseas Citizens
** Stateside Uniformed Service Members and their families

If you have not yet registered to vote, or requested your ballot, you may still have time. Each State has different registration and ballot request deadlines and many States are still accepting applications.

  • States still accepting ballot requests where registration is not required: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wisconsin*.
  • States still accepting registration and ballot requests: Arizona, Connecticut*, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia*, Washington.
  • States still accepting ballot requests from registered voters: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut**, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia**, West Virginia, Wisconsin**.

*Uniformed Service Members Only
**Overseas Citizens Only

To register or request an absentee ballot use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Go to www.fvap.gov/map.html and follow the prompts to register and request an absentee ballot. Many States allow you to submit the FPCA by email or fax in addition to regular mail which will get your ballot on its way immediately. The instructions in your application package will tell you how you can submit the form.

For US Citizens currently living or serving in the following countries, FVAP recommends mailing your ballot in no later than:

  • October 23rd: Djibouti; Aviano, Italy.
  • October 25th: Belgium; Denmark; England; Finland; France; Germany; Israel; Italy; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Spain; Turkey.
  • October 26th: Airstops throughout Afghanistan; Bahrain; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Egypt; Airstops throughout Iraq; Kuwait; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; Bulgaria; Canada; Crete; Greece; Iberian Peninsula; Seychelles; Australia; Antarctica; China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Marshall Island; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Wake Island Atoll; Bahamas; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guyana; Honduras; Nicaragua; Paraguay.


Service members overseas may Express mail their absentee ballots FREE of charge from any MPO/FPO or American embassy and consulate - just ask them to use the DoD Label 11. This label allows the voter to track their ballots at www.usps.com. Find out more about this new label at www.FVAP.gov.

Voting Assistance Officers and Local Election Officials - The November General Election is fast approaching and it is time for VAOs and LEOs worldwide to make their last push to get out voting information. Remind voters of all electronic alternatives if they have not started the voting process or need to fill out a back-up ballot. Set aside time to assist those with voting related questions. Don’t forget FVAP is here 24 hours a day at 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, via online chat or at vote@fvap.gov to help you if you cannot find the information you need locally.

VAOs who are currently aboard ships, or in units scheduled to move in the next 10 days, should be aware of the last day mail will be outgoing from your unit. Encourage your unit members to vote their ballots and get them into the mail system at least one day prior to that date.

The Electronic Transmission Service (ETS) - FVAP’s ETS enables local election officials and voters to transmit and receive election materials toll-free via fax or email. ETS also provides a fax-to-email conversion when a voter only has email available to them. The Electronic Transmission Cover Sheet must be used when faxing or emailing election materials. Packages can be faxed to: 1-800-368-8683 or (703) 696-2148; emailed to ets@fvap.gov. More information can be found in the ETS Instruction Manual.

The 2010 Post Election Survey - For the November 2010 general election, FVAP will be conducting a Congressionally mandated post-election survey of citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Six separate groups will be surveyed: Active Duty Military, Unit Voting Assistance Officers, Department of State Voting Assistance Officers, Military Spouses, Stateside Local Election Officials and Overseas U.S. Citizens. The surveys will measure voter participation in the 2010 election among UOCAVA citizens and solicit their opinions regarding FVAP programs and activities. If you are selected as a survey participant, your participation will be critical so we can accurately assess your absentee voting experience and provide the best possible assistance to absentee voters. All responses will be strictly confidential, will be used solely by FVAP, and will not be shared with any other governmental agency.

Additional information - We want your feedback! If you would like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with the absentee voting process, please contact FVAP at www.fvap.gov, 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, or at vote@fvap.gov. Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at: www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html.

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Thank you for your continuing support of providing voting assistance to military service members, their families, and citizens residing outside the US.