An Act to improve the administration and operation of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975, and for other purposes.
PL 95-593 (S.703), enacted 11/04/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-593—NOV. 4, 1978 
92 STAT. 2535 
Public Law 95-593 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To improve the administration and operation of the Overseas Citizens "Voting 
Rights Act of 1975, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 2 of 
the Overseas Citizens Voting Eights Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 1973dd) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking out "and" at the end of paragraph (2); 
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon and "and"; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: 
"(4) 'official postcard' means a postcard application for regis-
tration to vote and for an absentee ballot in the form provided 
in section 204(d) of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 
(42U.S.C.1973cc-14(d)).". 
SEC. 2. Section 3 of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 
1975 (42 U.S.C. 1973dd-l) is amended by inserting before the period 
the following: "or, in lieu thereof, an alternative form of identification 
consistent with this Act and applicable State or district requirements, 
if a citizen does not possess a valid passport or card of identity and 
registration". 
SEC. 3. Section 4 of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 
1975 (42 U.S.C. 1973dd-2) is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new subsection: 
"(c) In carrying out the provisions of this section, it is recom-
mended that each State— 
"(1) accept any official postcard which is duly executed by any 
person who meets the requirements in section 3 of this Act as a 
simultaneous application for registration under such State's elec-
tion laws and for an absentee ballot under such State's absentee 
balloting laws; 
"(2) if a special application is required for registration by 
mail, provide that the necessary forms will be sent with the 
absentee ballot and may be returned with it; 
"(3) authorize and instruct the State or local election officials, 
upon receipt of any official postcard application or any other 
application for registration to vote or an absentee ballot, to mail 
immediately to the applicant a ballot, instructions for voting and 
returning the ballot, and a self-addressed envelope; and 
"(4) provide that there be printed across the face of each 
envelope the words 'Official Election Balloting Material—Via Air 
Mail', or similar language.". 
SEC. 4. The Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 
1973dd et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 as sections 7, 8, 9, 
and 10, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 4 the following new sections: 
Nov. 4, 1978 
[S. 703] 
Overseas Citizens 
Voting Rights Act 
of 1975, 
amendment. 
42 use 
1973dd-3-
1973dd-5, 
1973dd note. 
92 STAT. 2536 
PUBLIC LAW 95-593—NOV. 4, 1978 
" C U R R E N T ABSENTEE VOTING I N F O R M A T I O N 
42 use 
"SEC. 5. (a) The Presidential designee under section 201 of the 
1973dd-2a. 
Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1973cc-ll) (herein-
after in this Act referred to as the 'Presidential designee') shall request, 
when appropriate, each State to furnish him with information on the 
current absentee registration and voting procedures of each State 
pertaining to citizens entitled to vote in Federal elections under this 
Act. Such information shall include election dates, officers to be elected, 
any provisions under such State's law requiring the removal of the 
name of any person from such State's voter registration roll (for what-
ever reason), and information related to the number of absentee voters 
in such State who are entitled to vote in Federal elections under this 
Act. "Where consistent with their respective duties, appropriate depart-
ments or agencies of the Federal Government shall assist and cooperate 
with the Presidential designee, both in the collection of such informa-
tion and in its dissemination to persons who meet the requirements in 
section 3 of this Act. 
"(b) The Secretary of State shall publicize, in the manner best 
designed to reach the persons meeting the requirements in section 3 
of this Act — 
"(1) the right of such persons to vote in Federal elections and 
the procedures available to such persons to enforce that right, as 
provided in this Act; and 
" (2) with the assistance of the Postmaster General, the availa-
bility of expedited mail delivery of balloting material under this 
Act. 
The Presidential designee shall notify all appropriate State and local 
election officials of such availability under this Act and under the 
Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1973cc et seq.). 
" P R I N T I N G AND TRANSMITTING OF POSTCARDS ; FREE POSTAGE; PUBLICITY 
42 use 
"SEC. 6. (a) The Administrator of General Services shall cause to 
1973dd-2b. 
be printed and distributed to the Department of Justice, the Depart-
ment of State, and any other appropriate department or agency of the 
Federal Government official postcards for use in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act as directed by the Presidential designee. Such 
departments or agencies shall deliver or make available such postcards 
to persons meeting the requirements in section 3 of this Act not later 
than August 15 immediately before any general Federal election for 
use in such election. To the extent practicable, such postcards shall 
also be made available at appropriate times to such persons for use in 
special or primary Federal elections. 
"(b) (1) The Postmaster General, the Attorney General, the Secre-
tary of State, and the head of any other appropriate department or 
agency of the Federal Government shall facilitate the transmission 
of balloting material, including official postcards, absentee ballots, 
voting instructions, and envelopes for the return of such ballots, to and 
from persons meeting the requirements in section 3 of this Act. 
"(2) Any balloting material sent from the United States to any 
person meeting the requirements in section 3 of this Act shall be sent 
PUBLIC LAW 95-593—NOV. 4, 1978 
92 STAT. 2537 
by priority airmail or by the most expedited postal service available. 
" (3) Any balloting material sent to the United States by any person 
meeting the requirements in section 3 of this Act shall be returned by 
priority airmail or by the most expedited service available, wherever 
practicable. Such material may be mailed from any Armed Forces post 
office in an overseas area established as provided in section 406 of title 
39, United States Code, unless otherwise prohibited by any treaty or 
other agreement between the United States and a foreign country. In 
the case of ballots executed outside the United States by any person, 
such ballots may be segregated from other forms of mail and placed in 
special bags marked with special tags printed and distributed by the 
Postmaster General for this purpose, 
"(c) Official postcards, ballots, voting instructions, and envelopes, 
whether transmitted individually or in bulk, shall be free of postage, 
including airmail postage, when sent from the United States in the 
United States mails.". 
SEC. 5. Section 9 of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975 
(42 U.S.C. 1973dd-5), as so redesignated in section 4(1), is amended— 
(1) by inserting " (a)" before "Nothing"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) The exercise of any right to register or vote in Federal elec-
tions by any citizen outside the United States shall not affect the 
determination of his place of residence or domicile for purposes of 
any tax imposed under Federal, State, or local law.". 
SEC. 6. The Overseas Citizens Voting Eights Act of 1975 (42 
U.S.C. 1973dd et seq.), as amended in section 4, is further amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
"AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
"SEC. 11. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such 42 USC 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.". 
1973dd-6. 
SEC. 7. Section 101 of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 
(42 U.S.C. 1973cc) is amended— 
(1) by inserting " (a)" before "The"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) Each State shall enable every citizen in the following cate-
gories who is absent from the place of his voting residence to register 
absentee and to vote by absentee ballot in any Federal election, as 
defined in section 2(1) of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 
1975 (42 U.S.C. 1973dd(l)), held in his election district or precinct if 
he is otherwise eligijale to vote in that election: 
"(1) Members of the Armed Forces while in the active service, 
and their sponges and dependents. 
"(2) Members of the Merchant Marine of the United States, 
and their spouses and dependents. 
The rights granted in this section shall be supplemental to the voting 
rights presently enjoyed by these citizens under other Federal and 
State laws.". 
SEC. 8. Section 202 of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 
(42 U.S.C. 1973cc-12) is amended by inserting after "voting pro-
cedures," the following: "any provision under such State's law requir-
92 STAT. 2538 
PUBLIC LAW 95-593—NOV. 4, 1978 
ing the removal of the name of any person from such State's 
registration roll (for whatever reason), information related to the 
number of absentee voters in a State who are entitled to vote in 
Federal elections under this Act,". 
SEC. 9. Section 203 of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 
(42 U.S.C. 1973CC-13) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking out "Council of State Gov-
ernments" and inserting in lieu thereof "government of the 
several States"; and 
(2) by striking out paragraph (3) and inserting in lieu thereof, 
the following new paragraph: 
"(3) the Postmaster General and the heads of the departments 
and a^ncies concerned to facilitate the transmission of balloting 
materials to and from persons to whom this Act is applicable. Any 
balloting material sent from the United States to such persons 
shall be sent by priority airmail or by the most expedited postal 
service available. Any balloting material sent to the United 
States by such persons shall be returned by priority airmail or 
by the most expedited service available, wherever practicable. In 
tne case of ballots executed outside the United States by any 
such person, such ballots may be segregated from other forms 
of mail and placed in special bags marked with special tags 
printed and distributed for this purpose.". 
SEC. 10. Section 204 of the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 
(42 U.S.C. 1973cc-14) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following new subsection: 
"(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and 
(c), the Presidential designee shall design, for purposes of carrying 
out the provisions of this Act and the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights 
Act of 1975, a single form of postcard application for registration to 
vote and for an absentee ballot. The Presidential designee is 
empowered to promulgate such form by regulation and upon adop-
tion of such form, subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall 
have no effect.". 
SEC. 11. (a) Section 2401(c) of title 39, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting after "title" a comma and the following: "the 
Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975,"; and 
(2) by striking out "Act" before the period and inserting in 
lieu thereof "Acts". 
(b) Section 3627 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
striking out "or under the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "under the Federal Voting Assistance 
Act of 1955, or under the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 
1975". 
/ 
^ 
(c) Section 3626 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(e) (1) In the administration of this section, the rates for third-
class mail matter mailed by a qualified political committee shall be 
the rates currently in effect under former section 4452 of this title for 
third-class mail matter mailed by a qualified nonprofit organization. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-593—NOV. 4, 1978 
92 STAT. 2539 
" (2) For purposes of this subsection— 
Definitions. 
"(A) the term 'qualified political committee' means a national 
or State committee of a political party, the Republican and 
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees, the Democratic 
National Congressional Committee, and the National Republican 
Conj^essional Committee; 
"(B) the term 'national committee' means the organization 
which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible 
for the day-to-day operation of such pohtical party at the 
national level; and 
"(C) the term 'State committee' means the organization which, 
by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for 
the day-to-day operation of such political party at the State 
level.". 
Approved November 4, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1568 (Comm. on House Administration). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-121 (Comm. on Rules and Administration). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): May 9, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 124 (1978): Sept. 19, considered and passed House, amended. 
Oct. 13, Senate concurred in House amendment.