MOVE (Military/Overseas Voters)
Electronic Applications are available on line at https://www.fvap.gov/
MOVE – Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment
UOCAVA – Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
FWAB – Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
FVAP – Federal Voting Assistance Program
Protected voters who may use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) / Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
- a member of the uniformed service on active duty
- a member of the Merchant Marine
- a spouse or dependent of a member of a uniformed service or the Merchant Marine
- a civilian voter who is outside the United States
- National Guardsman activated on State orders
The protected voter must be absent from his or her jurisdiction of residence and with the exception of the civilian voter living outside of the United States, the voter may be living inside or outside the United States.
Each voter must submit his or her own form. Registration is allowed at the voter’s last known U.S. address, even if someone else is residing at that address or the physical residence is no longer there. The registration form may be received via email, fax, or postal mail.
Example: You lived at 1234 Main St, Hamburg, MI but you sold your home to live overseas. You will still register at 1234 Main St, Hamburg, MI even though you no longer live at or own the residence. It is your last know U.S. address.
Returning a voted ballot
Protected voters may NOT return their ballots via email or fax. Absent voter ballots returned by protected voters must be sent to the Clerk via postal mail and be received by 8 p.m. on the day of the election. If a ballot is received after 8 p.m. on Election Day, the ballot cannot be counted unless the Secretary of State extended your receipt deadline.
One Application Applies to All Elections in a Calendar Year
A protected voter’s application must be honored for the entire calendar year. One application allows the protected voter to receive a ballot for all elections whether federal, state, or local for the entire year without having to submit a new application. Applications received after the last election of the year apply to the following calendar year.
Delivery of Absent Voter Ballots via Email or Fax when Requested
The MOVE Act allows the protected voter to request their ballot be sent via email or fax, in addition to postal mail. Ballots sent via email or fax must be returned by the protected voter via postal mail.
FWAB Use for Local, County, State and Federal Offices
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) may be used by a protected voter as a Backup Ballot. The FWAB allows a protected voter to write their candidate selections on a form and submit it as their ballot in case they don’t receive their physical ballot with time to return the ballot.
Voter Instructions - Postal Mail
Voter Instructions - E-Mail of Fax