Voting Tips

THE FPCA: THE FIRST STEP IN UOCAVA VOTING The Federal Post Card Application Form (FPCA SF-76) is the first step in the absentee voting process. This form is accepted by all states and territories as a simultaneous request for registration and/or an absentee ballot.  The 1995 version of the form is still in circulation and is still a valid registration and absentee ballot request form; however, it is highly recommended that you stock the October 2005 version as soon as older supplies run out. Above is a depiction of the most recent version of FPCA request for registration and absentee ballot.

Citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) are eligible to participate in all elections for Federal offices in their state of legal residence.  Many of these citizens are also eligible to vote in state and local elections.  Because election laws vary from state to state, please consult the 2008-2009 Voting Assistance Guide or ask your Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) for specific information regarding your state's laws.  The Guide contains state-by-state procedures for UOCAVA citizens to register and/or request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA, SF-76).  All shaded areas for your state or territory as indicated in the Guide must be completed.  The Guide is available in hard copy format or on-line at www.fvap.gov.

Your Voting Assistance Officer is located at the Consular Section, U.S. Embassy, 254 Kingsway, Maseru, Lesotho, at telephone number 2231-2666.

Things to Remember When Filling Out the FPCA:
* Fill out ALL blocks shaded in your state or territories' instructions in the Guide.

*  When filling out Block 3, "My Voting Residence", you must include a complete street address of where you actually lived in the state or territory in which you are voting, in order for the LEO to place you in the proper voting precinct.  A post office box is not appropriate.  If your address includes a Rural Route, use Block 6 "Additional Information" to indicate the specific location of your residence. For example, state "2 miles south of the intersection of Route 9 and I-34."  This address should be different from your Block 4 address and must be within the county or township where you claim legal voting residence.

* When filling out Block 4.a, "Where to Send My Voting Materials", enter the complete mailing address where you are currently living and where you wish to receive your absentee ballots.  This address must be different from your Block 3 address.  If you will have a new mailing address by the time election materials will be sent to you, please be sure to indicate this address here.

*  In order to vote in Presidential or state primaries, most states and territories require that you specify your party affiliation in Block 5.  Refer to the Guide for specific information regarding your state's primary elections.

*  If you use the online version of the FPCA, be careful where you download the form. The official online version of the FPCA is available from each Service's website. A link to the Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Form is also available at www.fvap.gov.  County websites may include a version of the form to be used by citizens voting in a specific jurisdiction.  Make sure you are eligible to use that form and vote in that jurisdiction before using downloading and completing the form. 

Things to Remember

*  It is very important that each applicant follow the instructions for filling out the FPCA according to the State-By-State Instructions in Chapter Three of the 2008-09 Voting Assistance Guide (also at www.fvap.gov), including the "Where To Send It" section of their state.  If an FPCA is sent to the wrong jurisdiction, it cannot be processed.

*  Please make sure the form is signed and dated.  Check the Guide to see if the citizen's form requires a witness or notary. (Very few states have this requirement.)

Absentee voting materials may be obtained through your military unit, Embassy, or Consulate Voting Assistance Officer.  Many U.S. citizens' organizations and corporations overseas maintain a stock of absentee voting materials,
as well. An on-line version of the FPCA is also available for all states and territories except Guam at www.fvap.gov.  This version of the form is a fillable PDF which may be completed online or printed out and completed. After completing the application, it must be signed, dated and placed in an envelope affixed with proper postage.  Postage free envelopes, for use in the U.S. Postal System, can also be printed from www.fvap.gov.  The Return Envelope template is available under the "Publications and Forms" section. 

The U.S. Embassy at Maseru will mail in the form.

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We encourage all eligible U.S. citizens to participate in their state primary elections. An updated list of all Presidential and state primary elections is available at www.fvap.gov.

Visit www.fvap.gov frequently for updates to the Voting Assistance Guide, other resources, and various links to other sites related to voting.

NOTE: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Federal Government, United States Department of Defense or the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. The Federal Voting Assistance Program does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locationsne of the best ways to distribute these materials is to conduct local voting information sessions or training workshops.

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Website:
www.fvap.gov

REMEMBER, VOTE!