Military and Family Support Center

Installation Voting Assistance

Military members and their eligible family members are afforded special voting protections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The Federal Voting Assistance Program and local Installation Voting Assistance Officers provide the necessary tools to ensure military families can vote from anywhere in the world.

Core Voting Tools for Military Families

Federal Post Card Application: The FPCA registers the voter and requests an absentee ballot simultaneously. You should complete this form annually, or whenever you move, deploy, or change your duty station.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot: The FWAB acts as an emergency backup ballot if the requested official state ballot does not arrive in time. You should use this if the election is rapidly approaching and your official absentee ballot has not arrived.

Federal Voting Assistance Program: FVAP is the centralized federal resource website (FVAP.gov) for voting guidance, forms, and state-specific deadlines. You can access it anytime to check specific state requirements, deadlines, or to digitally complete your forms.

The Absentee Voting Process

Step 1: Register and Request

• Submit the FPCA. Send the completed application to the local election official in your state of legal residence.

Step 2: Receive Your Ballot

• Monitor your mail or email. States are federally required to send absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters at least 45 days prior to a federal election.

Step 3: Vote and Return

• Complete and send your ballot. Fill out the ballot and return it before your specific state's deadline. Remember to use the FWAB backup if your standard ballot is delayed.

Military Spouses and Dependents

Military spouses and eligible dependents (18 years or older) possess the exact same voting rights and protections under UOCAVA as the active-duty service member.

General Eligibility

• Spouses and dependents accompanying the service member outside of their voting jurisdiction can use the FPCA and FWAB to participate in elections.

State of Legal Residence

• Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, spouses can often choose to retain the same state of legal residence as the service member for voting purposes, even if they have never physically lived there.

Geographical Separation

• Dependents living away from the service member, such as a child attending college in another state, can still utilize UOCAVA provisions if they are voting absentee outside their legal voting jurisdiction.

Local Installation Assistance

Your local Installation Voting Assistance Officers are fully equipped to help you navigate this process, supply necessary forms, and assist with mailing.

• Phone Number: 850-283-2400 (DSN: 523-2400)
• Email Address: 325FSS.FSH.Vote@us.af.mil