Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot 

If you do not receive your absentee ballot in enough time to meet 

your state’s deadlines, use this ballot as a backup. If you send in this 

ballot and receive your state’s ballot later, you should fill out and 

return your state ballot as well, noting that you had previously sent in 

this ballot. Your election official will count only one ballot. 

The following require you to register and request an absentee ballot 

before filling out this form: AL, AS, AR, CT, FL, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, 

LA, NH, NJ, NM, NY, PA, PR, RI, SD, TX, WI, WV, and WY. If your state 

or territory is listed, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) 

online at FVAP.gov 

If you already registered and requested a ballot, send in the Voter 

Information page and the Official Backup Ballot. 

Please be aware that some states will accept this form as 

registration and as an absentee ballot request for future elections. 

Use this form if you are: 

• On active duty in the Uniformed 

Services or Merchant Marine 

• An eligible spouse or dependent 

• A U.S. citizen living outside the 

United States 

You can vote wherever you are. This is how. 

1. Fill out your Voter Information page completely and accurately. 

• Your U.S. voting residence address is used to determine where 

you are eligible to vote absentee. For military voters, it is 

usually your last address in your state of legal residence. For 

overseas citizens, it is usually the last place you lived before 

moving overseas. You do not need to have any current ties 

with this address. DO NOT write a PO Box # in section 2. 

• Most states allow you to provide a Driver’s License number 

or the last 4 digits of your SSN. New Mexico, Tennessee, and 

Virginia require a full SSN. 

• If you cannot receive mail at your current mailing address, 

please specify a mail forwarding address. 

• Many states require you to specify a political party to vote in 

primary elections. This information may be used to register 

 you with a party. 

• Section 6 Requirements: Puerto Rico requires your mother’s 

and father’s first name. If registering in Vermont you must 

acknowledge the following by writing in section 6: “I swear or 

affirm that I have taken the Vermont Voter’s Oath.” Additional 

state guidelines can be found at FVAP.gov. 

• Remember to sign the bottom of the Voter Information page! 

2. Carefully fill out and seal your Official Backup Ballot. 

• DO NOT sign your ballot or include any personal information. 

Keep your ballot anonymous. 

• If using a self-sealing form, remove the adhesive liner, fold and 

seal tightly. 

• If you printed out the form, fold the voted ballot and seal it in an 

envelope marked “ballot enclosed”. 

3. Assemble your documents for mailing. 

• Put your Voter Information page and Official Backup Ballot into 

the mailing envelope. 

• You can find the address for your election office at FVAP.gov. 

• All states accept this form by mail and many states accept this 

form by email and fax. See your state’s guidelines at FVAP.gov.

Agency Disclosure Statement

The public reporting burden for this collection of 

information, OMB Control Number 0704-0502, is 

estimated to average 15 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

searching existing data sources, gathering and 

maintaining the data needed, and completing 

and reviewing the collection of information. Send 

comments regarding the burden estimate or burden 

reduction suggestions to the Department of Defense, 

Washington Headquarters Services, at whs.mc-alex. 

esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil. 

Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, no person shall be subject 

to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 

information if it does not display a currently valid OMB 

control number. 

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR FORM TO THE E-MAIL 

ADDRESS ABOVE.

Privacy Advisory

When completed, this form contains personally 

identifiable information and is protected by the 

Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. 

Questions? 

Email: vote@fvap.gov
Voter Information

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

Print clearly in blue or black ink, please see back for instructions.

Have you already registered and 

requested an absentee ballot? 

Some states allow you to use this form to register and request 

ballots for future elections. Visit FVAP.gov for more details. 

1. Who are you? Pick one.

For absent Uniformed 

Service members, their 

families, and citizens 

residing outside the 

United States. 

 I am on active duty in the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine -OR- I am an eligible spouse or dependent.

 I am a U.S. citizen living outside the country, and I intend to return.

 I am a U.S. citizen living outside the country, and my intent to return is uncertain.

 I am a U.S. citizen living outside the country, I have never lived in the United States.

Last name

First name

Middle name

Social Security Number

Suffix (Jr., II) Mr. Miss

Mrs. Ms.

Previous names (if applicable)

Birth date (MM/DD/YYYY)

Driver's license or State ID#

2. What is your U.S. voting residence address?

Your voting materials will not be sent to this address. See instructions on the other side of form.

Street address

City, town, village

County

Apt #

State

ZIP

3. Where are you now? You MUST give your CURRENT address to receive your voting materials.

Your mailing address. (Different from above) Your mail forwarding address. (If different from mailing address)

4. What is your contact information? This is so election officials can reach you about your request.

Provide the country code and area code with your phone and fax number. Do not use a Defense Switched Network (DSN) number.

Email:

Alternate email:

Phone:

Fax:

5. What are your preferences for future elections?

A. Do you want to register and 

request a ballot for all elections 

you are eligible to vote in?

Yes

No

B. How do you want to 

receive voting materials 

from your election office?

Mail

Email or online

Fax

C. What is your 

political party for 

primary elections?

6. What additional information must you provide?

Alabama requires two witness signatures; Alaska, Virginia and Wisconsin, require one witness signature. Puerto Rico and Vermont need 

more information, see back for instructions. Additional state guidelines can be found at FVAP.gov.

7. You must read and sign this statement.

I swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that: 

The information on this form is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that a material misstatement of fact in 

completion of this document may constitute grounds for conviction of perjury. 

I am a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age (or will be by the day of election), eligible to vote in the requested jurisdiction, and 

I am not disqualified to vote due to having been convicted of a felony or other disqualifying offense, nor have I been adjudicated mentally 

incompetent; or if so, my voting rights have been reinstated; and 

I am not registering, requesting a ballot, or voting in any other jurisdiction in the United States, except the jurisdiction cited in this voting form. 

In voting, I have marked and sealed this ballot in private and have not allowed any person to observe the marking of this ballot, except those 

authorized to assist voters under State and Federal law. 

Sign here X Today's date 

(MM/DD/YYYY)

 This information is for official use only. Any unauthorized release may be punishable by law. Previous editions are obsolete. Standard Form 186 (Rev.01-2023), OMB No. 0704-0502, NSN 7540-01-218-4384
Official Backup Ballot

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

Print clearly in blue or black ink.

Vote by writing the NAME or PARTY of the 

candidates you choose. To find out about 

specific federal candidates and races go to 

FVAP.gov.

Instructions

• The FWAB is intended to serve as a backup ballot. It can be used to vote for federal offices. Refer to your state or 

local election official for any special ballot instructions (e.g., instant runoff voting or ranked choice voting). 

• State laws vary on the use of the FWAB for state and local contests. Learn more online at FVAP.gov. 

• DO NOT write your name or any identifying number (SSN, driver’s license) on this ballot. 

• If you are voting in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you may vote for Delegate or 

Resident Commissioner, and in presidential primaries. 

• Photocopy this page if you require additional room for candidates or ballot initiatives.

Federal Offices

President and Vice President

U.S. Senator

U. S. Representative, Delegate, or 

Resident Commissioner to Congress

Other offices

Office Candidate name Political party

Ballot initiatives or other items

 Standard Form 186 (Rev.01-2023), OMB No. 0704-0502