Under federal law, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. Be sure to complete a new FPCA each year and every time your address changes. In California, voters do not need to request an absentee ballot; all active registered voters are sent an absentee ballot for every election. If you are using this form to register to vote, you are not required to submit proof of citizenship. If you are submitting your documents by email/online or fax, it is recommended you use the most secure transmission method available to protect your personal information. Registering and requesting your absentee ballot Select the category that best describes you. Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area. Your date of birth is required. Provide your California-issued ID number **or** the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number." Section 1 Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote. You cannot use a post office box as your residence address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. You do not need to have any current ties with this address. Section 2 Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. Section 3 Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number. Section 4 A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax." B. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections. Section 5 Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. Section 6 Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. Section 7 If you are using the FPCA to **register to vote**, you **must mail** or **fax** the form. Addresses can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov. If you are already registered and are using the FPCA to **update your registration information** you can **mail, email,** or **fax** your signed form to your election official. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov. Introduction **Mail your FPCA:** Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Mail your FPCA directly to your election official. How and where to submit your FPCA (mail) **Email your FPCA:** Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Scan the signed FPCA into your computer. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet." Email this package directly to your election official. How and where to submit your FPCA (email) **Fax your FPCA:** Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Fax your FPCA directly to your election official. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet." See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FPCA. How and where to submit your FPCA (Fax) To find out the status of your FPCA, contact your election official. Your election official will contact you if your FPCA is not accepted. Follow-up on your FPCA Once you receive your absentee ballot from your state it must be returned according to the deadlines and requirements in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. For special federal elections, visit FVAP.gov for specific deadlines. You can submit the state absentee ballot by **mail** or **fax\*.** Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section. *Overseas Uniformed Service members* can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section. **\*Fax only if you are overseas or activated within 7 days of the election.** Voting your ballot The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) can be used to register to vote. If you are using the FWAB to register to vote, it **must** be received by the registration deadline listed in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. You can use the FWAB to vote in federal, state and local elections, including ballot measures. In California, if you are using this form to register to vote, you are not required to submit proof of citizenship. If you are submitting your documents by email/online or fax, it is recommended you use the most secure transmission method available to protect your personal information. Haven't received your ballot? Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot Select the category that best describes you. Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area. Your date of birth is required. Provide your California-issued ID number **or** the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or California-issued ID number." Section 1 Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box as your residence address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence. You do not need to have any current ties with this address. Section 2 Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information. Section 3 Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by email or online, or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number. Section 4 A. Check "Yes" if you would like to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot, otherwise check "No." B. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax." C. Voters who do not provide a political party affiliation can vote for the office of U.S. President in a presidential primary election if the political party allows it. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for other primary elections or general elections. Section 5 Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form. Section 6 Sign and date the form. No witness signature required. Section 7 To vote, write in the candidate's name for each office. You are not required to make a selection for each and every contest. Vote your FWAB You can submit the FWAB by **mail** or **fax\***. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov. **\*Fax only if you are living outside the territorial limits of the United States or the District of Columbia or activated within 7 days of the election.** Introduction **Mail your FWAB:** Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fold along the dotted line and seal the completed "Official Backup Ballot", do not write on the "Official Ballot" envelope. Insert the sealed "Official Ballot" envelope and the "Voter Information" page into the mailing envelope and mail your FWAB directly to your election official. *Overseas Uniformed Service members* can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section or online at FVAP.gov. How and where to submit your FWAB (mail) **Fax your FWAB:** ***(fax only if you are living outside the territorial limits of the United States or the District of Columbia or activated within 7 days of the election)***. Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fax the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, directly to your election official. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet." See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FWAB. If you receive the state absentee ballot after transmitting your voted FWAB, you may also vote and return the state absentee ballot. If both are received by the deadline, only the state absentee ballot will be counted. How and where to submit your FWAB (fax)