Returning your Federal Post Card Application or Ballot to your Local Election Official

How do I return my on-line Federal Post Card Application Form (FPCA) to the local election official?

• Faxing or emailing may be an option (check the Voting Assistance Guide, Chapter 3, for your state or territory's requirements), but the FPCA must be mailed as well.
• Plain envelope (must affix local postage).
• Postage Paid envelope (must be used in US Mails). Template may be printed on a No. 10 or larger envelope. NOTE: Printing the template on plain paper and affixing it to another envelope will not be accepted by the United States Postal Service.

Click here for prepaid envelope template: www.fvap.gov/pubs/returnenvelope.pdf.

How do I return a ballot received via e-mail or fax?

Options:

1. Faxing or emailing may be an option (check the Voting Assistance Guide, Chapter 3, for your state or territory's requirements), but the ballot must be mailed as well.
2. If you do not have a return envelope from your Local Election Official or you are sending in the Online Version of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (OFWAB), print off the postage paid envelope at www.fvap.gov/pubs/returnenvelope.pdf on a No. 10 size business or larger envelope. NOTE: Printing the template on plain paper and affixing it to another envelope will not be accepted by the United States Postal Service.
3. Use the postage free transmission envelope portion of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, (Standard form 186).
4. Use a plain envelope, write in bold letters on the bottom left-hand corner, "Official Absentee Balloting Material" and be sure to apply the required postage for your location.

Click here for prepaid envelope template: www.fvap.gov/pubs/returnenvelope.pdf.

If you need a security envelope for the Online Version of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (OFWAB), you can click here: www.fvap.gov/pubs/fwabsecenv.html

Last updated/reviewed: April 7, 2008