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HOW TO VOTE USING THE BACK-UP BALLOT (FWAB)

HOW TO VOTE USING THE BACK-UP BALLOT (FWAB)

 

Is there a possibility your Official ballot won’t get to you in time to meet the ballot return deadlines?

VOTE NOW using the Backup Ballot (the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot or FWAB). The Backup Ballot is specifically for overseas voters!

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STEP I. Send in Your FPCA Form (the Federal Post Card Application) to Request Your Ballot:

Overseas voters should send in an FPCA form to establish that they are overseas voters and eligible to use the Backup Ballot (FWAB). 

To fill out and submit your FPCA form (Ballot Request), click here.

After you send it in, please be sure to verify with your Local Election Official that they received your FPCA form and will send out your official ballot. You can find the contact information on the State Voting Guide: www.votefromabroad.org/states

 

STEP II. Fill out and Send in Your Back-up Ballot (the FWAB):

1. Go to this website and follow the prompts to Fill in the Backup Ballot (FWAB)
The personal information portion of the form looks very similar to the FPCA (Ballot Request) and the information must match. 

2. The website may fill in the candidates for you to choose from. If it doesn't have that information for you, you can type in the candidate’s name.
Or, you can just type in "Democrat" for any office where you don't know the candidate's name. (This doesn't work for Primary elections since all of the candidates will be Democrats!)

3. Follow the instructions to download the PDF Package containing your completed Backup Ballot (FWAB) and Instructions. You can also download templates to paste onto your envelopes if you return your ballot by postal mail.

4. Print out the completed Backup Ballot (FWAB) and the other documents you downloaded. Then read and carefully follow the instructions to SUBMIT the required materials to your LEO.

To Return by Fax or Email: The Instructions will indicate if your state will accept the Backup Ballot (FWAB) by Email or Fax. We recommend you do so to ensure it will be received by the deadline.

  • If your state only allows return by Fax (but not Email) and you don’t have access to a fax machine, there are several options:

    • Search for “fax machine near me” for businesses that will send a fax for a fee.

    • Use an email-to-fax online service: There are several commercial services available, with free or inexpensive paid options. You can search online for internet based services, some of which are HelloFax, FaxZero, eFax, or FaxPlus

    • Use a cellphone email-to-fax app. Search for “fax app for Android/iPhone” on application platforms like Apple’s App Store, Google Play Store, Galaxy Store, etc.
      CocoFax, RingCentral, and GeniusFax are among the better known, but there are lots to choose from.

      With the email-to-fax services, you just scan in your       Backup Ballot (FWAB) and any required materials as an email attachment. Then follow the instructions to send your email attachment, which will be converted to a fax transmission.

      For more information about faxing, please see: How do I send in my FPCA or Ballot by fax if I don't have access to a fax machine?

To Return by Mail: If you choose – or if your state requires you – to return your Backup Ballot (FWAB) by postal mail, please follow the instructions carefully.

Your Backup Ballot (FWAB) must be mailed from outside the US! Don't mail it directly in USPS. 

Two envelopes are required:

    • a “Ballot Security Envelope”– to hold your completed Backup Ballot (FWAB) with your choices listed, and

    • a “Mailing Envelope”– to send in your sealed Ballot Security Envelope as well as the supporting materials with your identifying information. If you need to include your original signed FPCA (Ballot Request), place it in the outer “Mailing Envelope”.

When the Mailing Envelope reaches the Election Office, they will separate the Ballot Security Envelope from the supporting materials to maintain ballot secrecy.

You can hand-write the mailing information on the envelopes, or you can download the envelope templates to affix to blank envelopes. The US Postage Paid templates will provide free postage only if you use US Military Mail or the diplomatic pouch at your US Embassy or Consulate. Otherwise, you must affix sufficient postage. 

You can also use a courier service, such as FedEx, DHL, or UPS, to return your Backup Ballot (FWAB).

For more information about mailing, please see: I need to return my FPCA or Ballot by mail. What are my options?

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*FINAL NOTE: If you receive your official ballot after submitting your Backup Ballot (FWAB), you may complete and return your official ballot as well.

It’s not required, but if you receive your official ballot in time to return it as well, you may opt to send it in as well. We highly recommend you do so as it increases the chances that at least one ballot will arrive by the deadline.

It's okay – it's in the statute that only one ballot per person will be counted! If both your Backup Ballot (FWAB) and your official ballot arrive before the deadline, your Backup Ballot (FWAB) will be discarded and only your official ballot will be counted.

QUESTIONS?  Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We’re here to help you vote!