Serving away from home or living abroad doesn't mean sitting out. A dedicated federal
process lets you register and request your ballot in one step.
Last reviewed September 18, 2026
Who this covers
A federal law known as UOCAVA (the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act) covers active-duty members of the uniformed services, their eligible
family members, and U.S. citizens living outside the United States. If that's you, there's
a streamlined way to take part in federal elections.
The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
The main tool is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). It does two
things at once: it registers you and requests your absentee
ballot for federal elections. You complete the FPCA and send it to the election
office in the state where you're eligible to vote.
The official resource: FVAP.gov
The authoritative source for military and overseas voting is the
Federal Voting Assistance Program, a U.S. government program. Its
official website walks you through the FPCA and state-specific steps:
Complete the FPCA through the official Federal Voting Assistance Program resources.
Send it to your state or local election office as instructed.
Submit a fresh FPCA each year and whenever your address or status changes.
Allow extra time for mail and delivery from overseas.
State details still apply
Even with the federal process, your state administers your ballot, so its deadlines and
instructions matter — see registration deadlines and
open your state's official page below.
Find official information for your state
Registration rules and deadlines are set by each state. Choose yours to open its
official government registration page.
State-specific
Find Official Voter Registration Information
You'll be taken to the official U.S. government registration portal (vote.gov) for your
selected state or territory. It's free, and it's the authoritative source for local rules.
Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), eligible service members and U.S. citizens abroad can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the same time. The official resource is the Federal Voting Assistance Program at FVAP.gov.
What is the FPCA?
The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is a single form that lets covered voters register and request absentee ballots for federal elections. You send the completed FPCA to your election office in the state where you are eligible to vote.
How often should I submit the FPCA?
The Federal Voting Assistance Program generally recommends submitting a new FPCA each year to keep your registration and ballot requests current, especially if your address or status changes. Check FVAP.gov and your state’s office for specifics.