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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR THE MILITARY VOTER |
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Am I registered to vote? |
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Where am I registered
to vote? |
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How do I
change where I'm registered to vote? |
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What do I do if I haven't received my ballot but I sent FPCA in
on time? |
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Do I need a notary on
my FPCA? |
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Can I be
registered in two different states? |
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What are the implications for registering where I am stationed? |
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How do I get information about voting and upcoming elections? |
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How do I get a FPCA? |
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What's the difference between a FPCA and a FWAB? |
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Am I registered to vote?
To check the
status of your voter registration, contact your state or local
election office. The Federal Voting Assistance Program
website has a listing of all the state election office's
websites. Simply visit their website at
www.fvap.gov
and select the state election site. Once at this homepage,
you'll find a great deal of election information including how
to contact your local election office.
Seven states, as well as the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico, allow you to check your voter
registration online. The states providing this online
service are: Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North
Carolina, Delaware, South Carolina, and Virginia. Visit
this website for more specific information on registering in
these states:
http://www.fvap.gov/vao/stregissites.html
Return to FAQ Military |
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Where am I registered
to vote?
In order to
determine where you are currently registered to vote, contact
the election office where you last resided in the United States.
If you are unsure of the county you live in, visit
www.fvap.gov
and select "What is My County."
Return to FAQ Military |
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How do I
change where I'm registered to vote?
In order to
change the jurisdiction where you are registered to vote you
must change your residence. Changing one's residence
requires that you are physically present in that location and
have the intent to remain a resident. Whenever you move
into a new county or state, you should always contact the local
election office to inform them that you have changed your
address. Communicating with the local election office is
the best way to help them help you. You can also signify
that you have a new address by filling out block 6 in the FPCA.
If you have previously registered to vote in a jurisdiction
other than the one in which you are applying, indicate
"previously registered in (location)". In order to obtain
more information regarding this procedure you can visit
www.fvap.gov
and select "State by State Instructions."
Return to FAQ Military |
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What do I do if I haven't received my ballot but I sent FPCA in
on time?
One of the
best ways to check on the status of your FPCA is to contact your
local election office. Any questions regarding FPCA status
should be addressed to them. To find out when your state
mails out ballots, refer to the 2006-07 Voting Assistance
Guide (found online at
www.fvap.gov,
select "State by State Instructions.") If election day is
drawing hear, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot to vote.
Return to FAQ Military |
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Do I need a notary on
my FPCA?
Out of the 50
states, the four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia,
50 do not require a notary on the FPCA. The five that
DO require a notary on the FPCA are: American Samoa,
Michigan (only applies to civilians), Minnesota, Puerto Rico,
and Vermont. In order to check the status of your state's
rules regarding notary requirements to to:
http://www.fvap.gov/vao/notaryreqts.html.
Return to FAQ Military |
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Can I be
registered in two different states?
Voting rights for
the state you claim apply when you can provide proof of
residence, ie: driver's license, water/gas bill, etc.
(Each state's requirements are different, check with your
state's election board to see what they require). You may
only have one legal residence at a time, but Uniformed Service
personnel and their family members may change residence each
time they are transferred to a new location. If you
continue to receive voting materials from your old county,
notify the election board to remove you from their local voter
list.
Return to FAQ Military |
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What are the implications for registering where I am stationed?
Exercising your
right to vote in elections for Federal offices only does
not affect the determination of residence or domicile for
purposes of any tax imposed under Federal, state or local law.
Voting in an election for Federal offices only may not be
used as the sole basis to determine residence for the purposes
of imposing state and local taxes. If you claim a
particular state as your residence and have other ties with that
state in addition to voting, you may be liable for state
and local taxation, depending upon that particular state law.
Consult your legal counsel for specific questions or situations.
Return to FAQ Military |
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How do I get
information about voting and upcoming elections?
If you have
questions about where or how to vote, what forms to use or state
specific regulations, consult the Voting Assistance Guide
available in print form from FVAP or your Voting Assistance
Officer, or its online version available at
www.fvap.gov.
The Democratic and
Republican parties have organized groups in many countries
throughout the world, and information may be obtained by
contacting their umbrella organizations:
FVAP also offers
the Voting Information Center (VIC) that provides information on
elections and recorded messages from U.S. Senators, U.S.
Representatives and state Governors. Callers may connect
directly the the office of U.S. Senators, U.S. Representative,
Governor or their chief state election official through the VIC.
The VIC also provides direct access to Service Voting Action
officers during normal business hours in the U.S. Telephone
numbers:
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Commercial
1-800-438-VOTE (Collect calls not accepted).
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DSN 425-1343.
DSN use is authorized for all military and family members.
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Toll
free numbers are available for over 60 countries (Consult
the Voting Assistance Guide or
www.fvap.gov for a full
listing)
Return to FAQ Military |
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How do I get a
FPCA?
In Person:
You can obtain a cardstock version of the FPCA through Voting
Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S.
embassies/consulates.
Electronic: There is an
online version of the FPCA (OFPCA), and it is accepted by all
states and territories except American Samoa and Guam. The
form is available on the FVAP's website at
http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefpca.html
in PDF format and can be filled in on-line, printed out, signed,
dated, placed in an envelope with proper postage and then mailed
to the appropriate Local Election Official (LEO). The form
requires Acrobat Reader 6 or higher.
Having trouble? If you are still having trouble
obtaining a FPCA, feel free to contact FVAP's Ombudsman service
at 800-438-8683.
Return to FAQ Military |
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What's
the difference between a FPCA and a FWAB?
A FPCA is a Federal
Post Card Application (Standard Form 76)
that should be filled out and sent to your local election
official every year and whenever you change addresses, in order
to ensure that you receive the necessary ballots with adequate
time to vote through the mail. The FPCA is used to
register, and/or request an absentee ballot. Postage is
paid if mailed within U.S postal system, including APO and FPO
addresses and U.S. Embassies and Consulates. If mailed in
a foreign postal system, international airmail postage must be
affixed. Some states allow the electronic transmission
(fax and/or email) of FPCAs, consult the Voting Assistance
Guide for state or territory specific procedures.
A FWAB is a Federal Write-In
Absentee Ballot (Standard Form 186) that is used
as a backup "emergency" ballot in the case the regular state
ballot does not reach the UOCAVA voter in adequate time
for voting. It contains both a write-in area and a special
security envelope, and the same postage/mailing conditions apply
as for the FPCA. FWABs are available through Voting
Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S.
embassies/consulates (also available online at
www.fvap.gov.)
Generally, an absent uniformed services member or a citizen
outside the United States can only use the FWAB under very
specific conditions.
THE ABSENT
UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTER MUST:
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Be absent from
his/her voting residence;
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Have applied
for a regular ballot early enough so the request is received
by the appropriate local election official not later than
the State deadline; or the date that is 30 days before the
general election; AND
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Have not
received the requested regular absentee ballot from the
state.
THE CITIZEN
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MUST:
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Be located
outside the United States (including APO/FPO addresses);
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Have applied
for a regular ballot early enough so the request is received
by the appropriate local election official not later than
the State deadline; or the date that is 30 days before the
general election; AND
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Have not
received the requested regular absentee ballot from the
state.
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