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Until Election Day!

This page is dedicated to helping Airmen at home station or deployed, DoD civilians overseas, and their family members determine how to register and vote, either locally or by absentee ballot, in accordance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

SecAF and CSAF MEMO
for ALMAJCOM/FOA/DRU

Subject: Federal Voting Assistance Program, dated Sep 11, 2006

How do I vote by absentee ballot?
Click on the to the questions below to find out.

Step 1:
Complete and mail Federal Post Card Application Form (SF 76).

Step 2:
Local Election Official approves registration request or requests further information.

Step 3:
Local Election Official mails absentee ballot to voter address.

Step 4:
Citizen votes using the absentee ballot and mails it to the Local Election Official in time to meet state deadlines.

Do I vote locally or by absentee ballot?

Welcome to the Air Force site designed to assist anyone whose Air Force service, employment or family relocation would prevent them from voting in their voting residence home state. Some basic essential questions follow. We recommend you look this over before starting the “process” steps on the left.

Why is voting different for Military and Military Families?
Voting in the U.S.A. is controlled and conducted by the State governments who have various rules for voting at local polls and voting early or absentee if a local voter will be temporarily gone on Election Day. Military voting is different because extended or overseas absences would prevent absentee voting using normal state voting rules. A special law--The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)--requires that the states and territories allow certain groups to register and vote absentee in federal elections.

What if I am Deployed?
While a few deploying or deployed members may be able to vote at their local polls prior to departure or will return in time to vote at their local polls, most deployed members must use the UOCAVA absentee voting process if they desire to vote. Local briefings during processing for deployment should encourage deploying members to take a copy of two voting forms with them (SF76, Federal Post Card Application, and SF186, Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot). Assistance is also available both from home Installation Voting Action Officers (or Unit Voting Counselors) and from the nearest Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO) team. PERSCO teams should also have copies of the SF76 and SF186. Additionally, the SF76 is available on the web at the FVAP site link below. The process steps at the left discuss the use of these forms and will guide you through the registration, ballot request and voting process.

Who is eligible to vote under the UOCAVA law?
All members of the U.S. Uniformed Services (on active duty) including the merchant marine, their family members and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S. This site will guide those citizens thru the UOCAVA voter registration and voting process.

Do all military vote under the UOCAVA law or can I vote locally?
Many military members, Guard, reservists, employees and family members happen to be stationed / working in their voting residence City & State and may vote locally at the polls or use their State’s absentee process. Each state has specific residency and voter registration requirements. State rules and, in most cases, forms can be found on the web by searching your “State name” and the words “voting” or “election.” Phone numbers for local election or voting offices can be found in any phone book in the “government offices” section. Even if it is not your home state, military members may vote in the state or territory where stationed if they change their legal residence to that state or territory, even if they live on a military installation--often just registering to vote there will result in a change. Because there are legal and tax obligations that may be incurred you should visit your installation legal office for advice on local & State taxation policies. Voters using the UOCAVA protections continue to remain voting and tax residents of their home state without regard to the places their duty has taken them.

Where is my “legal voting residence?”
For voting purposes, your "legal voting residence" can be the state or territory where you last resided prior to entering military service or the state or territory that you have since claimed as your legal residence. To claim a new legal residence you must have simultaneous physical presence and the intent to return to that location as your primary residence. Military and family members may change their legal residence every time they change permanent duty stations or they may retain their legal residence without change. Family members may have a different legal voting residence from the member. A legal officer should be consulted before legal residence is changed because there are usually other factors, besides voting, that need to be considered. You may claim residency even though you may no longer maintain formal ties to your former residence address, such as property ownership. All paperwork will use the former address because it is needed to place you in a proper voting district, ward, precinct or parish.

My family members are not in the military; can they also vote absentee?
The law entitles eligible family members of military personnel to vote absentee. Family members are considered to be in the same category of absentee voter as military members and generally should follow the same procedures. Family members of military personnel residing overseas, who are U.S. citizens and who have never resided in the U.S., usually claim a U. S. citizen parent's legal state of residence as their own.

Is more help available?
Yes. All military installations have an Installation Voting Action Officer (IVAO) assigned. They can be reached by calling any installation telephone operator and asking for the Voting Officer. Installation web pages should also provide a way to reach your IVAO. Most IVAOs have unit voting counselors assigned in work centers. Assistance is also available by calling the HQ AFPC Contact Center at 1-800-616-3775.

OK I’m ready--how do I start?
On your left you will find the 4 steps required to register and vote under the UOCAVA procedures. Some of the more popular questions for that step are included and answers will appear when you move your cursor over them.