2020-21 Voting Assistance Guide
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2020-21 Voting Assistance Guide Assistance for citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) (52 U.S. Code § 203) Publication ID# VAG 20-21 The 2020-21 Voting Assistance Guide (Guide) was prepared by the Federal Voting Assistance Program with the assistance of the Secretaries of State, Directors of Elections and their staff, the Uniformed Service branches and the Department of State. Information and procedures in the Guide are current as of October 2019 and may be affected by changes to Federal and state law. Check FVAP.gov for updates and for information on how to get updated information. We want your feedback! If this book was helpful to you, if you ran into problems, or have questions, please email [email protected] or mail: Federal Voting Assistance Program, 4800 Mark Center Dr., Ste 05E22; Alexandria, VA 22350. 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 10/2019) 1 1 2016-2017 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 9/2015) 1 This page intentionally left blank. 2 Dear Voting Assistance Guide User: Welcome to the 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (Guide). The Guide, published every two years and continually updated online, is a catalog of the state-specific processes and regulations that military and overseas voters should follow to successfully register to vote and cast an absentee ballot. FVAP produces this important resource for each election cycle, as it often serves as a single source of information for both Voting Assistance Officers and voters. It contains all of the essential steps Uniformed Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens should take to complete the absentee voting process. FVAP works closely with state election officials through several rounds of coordination to put this volume together and we cannot accomplish this without their collaboration and valuable input. For the 2020 election year, this Guide reflects our continued focus on federal election eligibility and our consistent effort to streamline content to better support our Voting Assistance Officers. The biggest change to our forms, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB), is the removal of activated National Guard members on State orders, as this group is not eligible to use our resources under federal law which resulted in continued confusion. Both of these forms are updated to reflect usability enhancements to avoid unforced errors in their completion so all of the supporting step-by-step instructions are revised. So even if you are an experienced Voting Assistance Officer, this edition represents an excellent opportunity for a refresher. Regardless of duty station or distance from home, FVAP is committed to providing the best voting assistance possible to the members of our military, their families, and overseas citizens. We look forward to continuing to serve our voters – and offering the best support we can for all federal elections in 2020. Sincerely, David Beirne Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 10/2019) 3 3 2016-2017 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 9/2015) 1 This page intentionally left blank. 4 Table of contents Chapter 1 How to vote absentee . 7 Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). 11 Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). 16 Transmission Cover Sheet . 23 Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures . 25 by State or territory Chapter 3 Guide for Voting Assistance Officers 459 Appendix . 471 Frequently Asked Questions Handout . 473 2020 Primary Election Dates Handout . 477 U.S. Embassy and Consulate Email Addresses Handout . 479 Inside front cover: Service Voting Action Officers’ contact information Inside back cover: International toll-free phone and fax numbers 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 10/2019) 5 5 2016-2017 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 9/2015) 1 This page intentionally left blank. 6 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 How to vote absentee To vote in a U.S. election, on the day of the election you must: be a U.S. citizen be 18 years old be absent from your voting residence Voting absentee? The absentee voting process in this guide applies to you if you are: an active duty member of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, or commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; an eligible spouse or family member of an active duty member of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, or commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or a U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S. This guide may also apply to you if you are: a member of the National Guard activated on State orders, in some states. See state requirements in Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures by State or territory. This guide does NOT apply to you if: you are located at your voting residence on election day. To vote locally contact your election office or complete a National Voter Registration Form (NVRF), which may be obtained from your Installation Voter Assistance Office (IVA Office) or from the Election Assistance Commission website (EAC.gov). Contact your state election office or website for more information. See Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures by state or territory for contact information. 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 10 /2019) 7 Chapter 1 How do you vote absentee? There are three steps to voting absentee in an election: Step 1: Register and request your absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), a federal law, the FPCA registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. To get an FPCA Online version: Use the online assistant at FVAP.gov to complete your FPCA. The online assistant uses your state's requirements as you go through the How often should I complete process of completing the form. Once you have finished, download the an FPCA? To ensure you PDF package, print, sign, and send. continue to receive absentee Visit FVAP.gov to download the fillable FPCA. Complete it using your ballots during your time away state's requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Voting Assistance Guide. from your voting residence, be Then print, sign, and send. sure to submit a new FPCA NOTE: You will need to have your own envelope to send your every January, each time you completed FPCA by mail. Envelope templates are available to move, or at least 90 days prior to download online at FVAP.gov. the election you want to vote in. Hardcopy version: Get a hardcopy FPCA from a Voting Assistance Officer (VAO), at an Installation Voter Assistance (IVA) Office at any military installation, or at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Make a copy of the FPCA found in Chapter 1 or the Appendix of the Voting Assistance Guide. Send your completed and signed FPCA to your election official. To find your state transmission methods, see state requirements in Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures by state or territory. Step 2: Receive your absentee ballot Your election official will process your FPCA to determine the appropriate ballot to send you. If you have questions about the status of your FPCA, contact your local election office directly. Your local election official will contact you if your application is denied or if they need additional information from you in order to process your form. How do I know what information must be included Election officials are required to send absentee ballots no later than 45 days in the FPCA? Chapter 2 of the before an election for those who are registered and have requested a ballot. If Voting Assistance Guide you submit your FPCA within 45 days of the election, they will send your providesinstructions for each ballot as soon as possible, upon processing your form. state and territory for completing and transmitting the FPCA. All states must allow you to receive your blank absentee ballot electronically, when requested. This may include email, fax, or online download. 2020-2021 Voting Assistance Guide (current as of 10 /2019) 8 Chapter 1 Step 3a: Return your voted state ballot Vote and return your state absentee ballot as soon as you receive it. Follow the instructions sent with your ballot to mark and return your ballot. What if I do not receive my Know the deadline. The date when your election office must receive your absentee ballot and the completed ballot is set by each state. election is 30 days away? If you do not receive your state See state requirements in Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures by state or territory. absentee ballot 30 days before the election, use the Federal Step 3b: If you do not receive your state ballot Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Information about the If you do not receive your state absentee ballot in time to return it to your FWAB can be found in Chapter election office by the state deadline, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot 1 and in your state's pages in (FWAB). Chapter 2. The FWAB serves as a backup ballot for voters covered by UOCAVA. The FWAB can be used in all states and territories to vote for federal offices (President/Vice President, U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and Delegate or Resident Commissioner). Some states allow the FWAB to be used to vote for state and local offices, ballot questions, and referenda. See state requirements in Chapter 2 Absentee voting procedures by state or territory. To get a FWAB Online version: Use the online assistant at FVAP.gov to complete the FWAB.