FEDERAL WRITE-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT  - FWAB

• Preserves vote if official ballot is delayed or won’t arrive in time 

• Can be sent in any time during the calendar year

• Don’t need to wait for the “official ballot” to be sent out (45 days before election). That may not be enough time to mail back a ballot especially if voters must rely on the diplomatic pouch

 

Votefromabroad.org has FAQ’s which help explain the FWAB

• 1. What is the Backup Ballot (or FWAB) and how do I use it?
• 2. I haven't received my blank ballot yet. Should I use a Backup Ballot (the FWAB)?
  
  
  FVAP.gov: State Voting Guides

https://www.fvap.gov/guide/chapter2/new-york

 

Fine points of using, completing and sending a FWAB

• You can only get the FWAB on the Federal Voter Assistance Program site, https://www.fvap.gov/

 

• We strongly suggest you submit your FPCA in advance of doing the FWAB, but….. we have learned of the issue of needing a paper/signed FPCA in the office in all cases.

 

 

• With the above, we recommend that you print, complete, sign and date an FPCA and include it in the outer mailing envelope. That way a paper FPCA will be at the office WITH your FWAB.

 

• If you are a “return uncertain”, you may only be able write in Federal offices. President, Senate and House of Representatives.  You can write in names or just write “DEMOCRAT”

 

 

• If you are an “intend to return”, you may be able vote further down the ballot for State Senate and Assembly, local offices and referendum. Remember, state law determines voting laws and if you can vote for State Reps, you should.

 

• The FWAB must be mailed from outside the United States.

 

 

• In general, we do not recommend sending back ballots with your country’s mail system with tracking. Tracking only seems to hold up the receipt of your ballot at the US county.

 

• The idea behind sending the FWAB now is that your ballot has additional time to get to its intended target. And you can STILL send in your official ballot (along with a SIGNED and DATED FPCA) after Sept. 21.  You have increased your odds of at least one of them getting to your LEO by 50%.
• If you have questions or run into any difficulty completing your FWAB, DA voter assistants are available to help you. Write to [email protected]