Military and Overseas Voters
QUICK LINKS
Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)
Request A Vote By Mail (Absentee) Ballot
Florida Election Laws
The Federal Post Card Application is the form that permits UOCAVA citizens to simultaneously register and request absentee ballots in the state or territory where they last resided immediately prior to departing the United States, even if they no longer maintain a residence in that state. To register and request an absentee ballot in the State of Florida:
1. Send a completed FPCA to the Supervisor of Elections office so that it arrives not later than 29 days before
the election.
- If you maintain a Florida residence, you will receive a ballot containing all local, state, and Federal races
for which you are eligible to vote.
- If you are or were a registered voter and no longer maintain a Florida residence but you intend to return,
you will receive a ballot with all state and Federal races.
- If you were never registered in Florida and no longer maintain a Florida residence but this is the last place
you lived, you will receive a ballot for Federal races only.
2. If you are already registered in Hillsborough County and you wish to request absentee ballots, send the
completed FPCA to the Supervisor of Elections office so that it arrives not later than the Friday before the
election. Alternatively, you may use any of the regular means of requesting mail ballots.
3. An FPCA application for an absentee ballot is effective for all elections through the next regularly scheduled
general election.
4. The FPCA does not require postage if mailed in the U.S. postal system, including all U.S. military post offices
(APO/FPO) overseas as well as diplomatic pouches.
NOTE: BALLOTS ARE NOT FORWARDABLE - Be sure to provide your current mailing address
Late Registration:
If you or a family member have been discharged or separated from the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, or from employment outside the territorial limits of the United States, you may register after the registration deadline for an election until 5 p.m. on the Friday before that election.
Mailed Ballots:
If you reside outside the U.S., or you are an absent uniformed services voter, your ballot will be mailed at least 45 days before an election.
Electronic Transmission of Ballots:
If you are an overseas voter, or are an absent uniformed services voter, you may request to receive your ballots by fax or e-mail.
Your request must include:
1. Your Name
2. Your date of birth
3. Your county of residence
4. One of the following:
- A return fax number if the ballot is to be faxed
- An APO/FPO or other deliverable overseas address if the ballot is to be mailed
- An e-mail address if the ballot is to be electronically mailed
5. Your signature (faxed request only)
- If you want your ballot to be faxed, your request is valid only for the upcoming election or the one election
you specify.
State Write-In Ballot:
Overseas voters who cannot be reached to deliver an absentee ballot in time for the general election may request a state write-in ballot not earlier than 180 days before an election. Your request must state that due to military or other contingencies that preclude normal mail delivery, you cannot vote an absentee ballot during the normal absentee period.
State write-in ballots will be mailed between 90 and 180 days prior to the general election.
Federal Write-In Ballot:
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is a back-up ballot that may be used for Federal races only if all of these conditions apply:
1. You are located outside the United States, including APO and FPO addresses.
2. You have applied for a regular absentee ballot early enough so that we have received your request at least
30 days before the election. The FPCA may be used to request your regular Florida absentee ballot.
3. You have not received the requested regular Florida absentee ballot.
CASTING YOUR BALLOT:
You may return your voted ballot by mail, courier, or fax. You cannot return your ballot via email, because state law requires an original signature on the ballot certificate envelope. Voted ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. Election Day.
Late Counting of Overseas Ballots:
If you are an overseas voter, the Federal portion of your ballot will be counted if the ballot envelope is dated or postmarked no later than the day of the election and received up to 10 days after a general election or presidential primary election.
Ballots that are returned by fax are not included in the late counting of ballots.
