The FWAB or "backup ballot" is an important safeguard for overseas voters if their official absentee ballot doesn't arrive in time to be returned by their state's deadline.

Completing a backup ballot now will improve the chances that your vote will arrive in time to be counted. You should still receive your state ballot via email around September 19.  Fill that out and mail it in too. If both ballots arrive by the deadline, the FWAB will be discarded. This is not voting twice.

1. Request your Overseas Ballot (if you haven't already this calendar year) via https://www.votefromabroad.org Make sure you request that your ballot is sent to you via EMAIL.
2. Complete the FWAB backup ballot. Read all the instructions and follow the steps on the website to generate it. For guidance on which races are happening in your area, use ballotpedia.org and the Blue Voter Guide: https://bluevoterguide.org
3. Your Information must match: ensure that the information you put on the Overseas Ballot request (via VoteFromAbroad) matches what you put on the FWAB "Voter Information Page". (For example, if you said you 'intend to return' on your ballot request, you must say 'intended to return' on the FWAB)
4. Mail it ASAP. The FWAB must be sent from ABROAD so it must have a foreign postmark or consular stamp.

Yes, this does mean filling out two ballots and paying for postage to the US twice, but for these critical elections it is still a small price to pay to make sure your vote arrives in time.

Click here to learn more about the FWAB

Join us on Friday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. BST for a session covering:

• When a voter should use a FWAB.
• How to complete and submit a FWAB correctly.
• How to help overseas voters understand their options if they're worried their ballot won't arrive in time.

Click to RSVP for the FWAB Info Session