To vote from abroad, you have to register to vote with local election officials in your state of legal (voting) residence, AND every year you have to request to receive absentee ballots. You can use one form to do both – the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Submit a new FPCA in January of each year, every time you move, change your address, change your email, or change your name.
To complete and address the form, go to either the Federal Voting Assistance Program or the Overseas Vote Foundation website, where an on-line assistant walks you through the process. You can also pick up an FPCA and a copy of your state’s requirements at the U.S. Embassy in Libreville.
You can always return your FPCA by mail. In addition, most states allow you to send in your FPCA by fax or email. Consult the online FVAP Voting Assistance Guide for your state’s current instructions. If you need help completing or submitting the form, contact our voting assistance officer at votelibreville@state.gov.
You can drop off your ballot request or voted ballot at the U.S. Embassy in Libreville for return to the United States, or you can have someone drop it off for you. It must be addressed to your local election officials and have sufficient postage or be in a postage-paid envelope. A postage-paid envelope is available on the FVAP web site.
For more information on voting abroad, visit State Department’s Absentee Voting Information page.
Georgia Special Election Runoff Scheduled for June 20
Georgia Special Runoff Election Scheduled for June 20
The State of Georgia will conduct a special runoff election on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, for the 6th Congressional District to replace Tom Price who was confirmed as the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. This district consists of parts of Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton counties.
A special election was held on April 18, 2017. With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote, a special runoff election will now be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Service members, eligible family members and overseas citizens may use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is the registration and ballot request form accepted by all States and territories. Complete, sign and send the FPCA to your election office. If you are a Georgia resident from the 6th Congressional District, register and request an absentee ballot today starting at FVAP.gov.
To access the FPCA, you can:
- Use the FPCA online assistant (fvap.gov/military-voter/registration-ballots);
- Complete the fillable PDF version (fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf); or
- Pick up a hardcopy version from your Voting Assistance Officer or nearest U.S. Embassy or Consular Office.
Be sure to double-check your contact information is accurate in case your election office needs to reach you.
To participate in the runoff election, voters need to have registered by March 20. If you are unsure of your registration status, contact your election office (fvap.gov/search-offices?state=10). If you are currently registered, your FPCA ballot request must be received by June 16.
Detailed instructions and county contact information is available at (fvap.gov/georgia).
Ballots will be sent beginning May 5 for those who have requested them. If you do not receive your requested State ballot 30 days before the election, there’s a backup ballot called the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) with an online assistant that provides you with the candidate list. It’s available using the “Get My Ballot” link at (fvap.gov/military-voter/registration-ballots). You may also fill out the PDF (fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fwab2013.pdf) or pick up a hardcopy version from your Voting Assistance Officer or nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
If you receive your State ballot after submitting the FWAB, you should still complete and return it, as well. Only one ballot per person will be counted.
If you’d like more information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program or need help with the absentee voting process please go to FVAP.gov or call FVAP at 703-588-1584 (toll free 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 425-1584) or email (vote@fvap.gov).
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Federal Voting Assistance Program
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization that works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so — from anywhere in the world.
FVAP assists voters through partnerships with the Military Services, Department of State, Department of Justice, and election officials from 50 States, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. State and local governments administer U.S. elections, including those for federal offices. FVAP supports State and local election officials by providing absentee voting information, materials, training and guidance.
Voters can contact FVAP’s call center at 703-588-1584 (toll free 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 425-1584) or email (vote@fvap.gov). Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at FVAP.gov. Find FVAP on Facebook at (facebook.com/DoDFVAP) and Twitter (twitter.com/fvap).
