Through the Federal Voting Assistance Program, service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens are able to exercise their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world.
Elections are managed individually by 50 States, U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. This equates to 55 sets of rules for absentee voting, but the basic steps are simple:
- Citizens register to vote and request an absentee ballot by filling out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), and mailing it to their local election official in their State of legal residence. State specific instructions and forms can be found here: www.fvap.gov.
- The election official approves the FPCA, disapproves the FPCA or requests additional clarifying information.
- Once the FPCA is approved, the election official sends an absentee ballot to the citizen.
- The citizen completes, and returns their voted ballot to their local election official by their State’s deadline.
Stuttgart community members interested in voting in 2016 elections should submit their requests for absentee voting by Jan. 31. Absentee ballot registration is available for your respective state at: www.fvap.gov.
If you are a new voter, you can also register at through FVAP to vote. All citizens over age 18 are eligible to vote*.
For more information on overseas voting or assistance with absentee ballots, contact the Installation Voting Assistance Officer at DSN: 431-2865/civ. 07031-15-2865.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Army Garrison the Installation Voting Assistance Officer and the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
* In 22 states, 17-year-olds can vote in the February primary elections, provided they will be 18 by Election Day, Nov. 8, 2016.