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What is UOCAVA?

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986 protects the voting rights of members of the Uniformed Services (on active duty), members of the Merchant Marine and their eligible dependents, Commissioner Corps of the Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.

 

Registering and Requesting your Ballot

UOCAVA citizens can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to:

  • Register to vote
  • Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot
  • Update Voter Registration Information

You may also register to vote online by visiting www.RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov or contact us to request a voter registration application or a vote-by-mail ballot be sent to you.

 

How Do I Obtain a Florida Post Card Application?

Online

FVAP.gov offers an online assistant that walks you through completion of the form, and provides a populated fillable PDF. Once completed, do not forget to print and sign the form before submitting it.

Hardcopy

Hard copies of the form are available at all military installations and U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.

 

Submitting an FPCA

If you are using the FPCA to register to vote, you must mail the form. Send your completed FPCA to the Supervisor of Elections office so that it arrives not later than 29 days before the election.

If you are already registered and are using the FPCA to request a vote-by-mail ballot, you can mail, email or fax your signed form. Send your completed FPCA to the Supervisor of Elections office so that it arrives not later than the Wednesday before the election.

Unsure if you are registered? Check your voter registration status by using our Online Voter Information Tool.

Mail your FPCA: 

Marion County Election Center, PO Box 289 • Ocala, FL  34478-0289

If mailing the FPCA through the U.S. Postal Service, APO/FPO or diplomatic pouch, it can be sent postage-paid using the mail indicia available at FVAP.gov. Mailing the FPCA using a foreign country’s postal service requires local postage and should have “USA” in the address line of the mailing envelope or folded hardcopy form.

E-Mail or Fax your FPCA: 

Email: VotebyMail@VoteMarion.Gov
Fax: 352-620-3286

Be sure to also include the Electronic Transmission Sheet.  You may also use the DoD Electronic Transmission Service (ETS)* to email your FPCA. 

 

Electronic Transmission Service (ETS)

FVAP's ETS enables election officials to send and receive election materials by fax to and from UOCAVA voters at no cost. This service allows election officials to fax the materials to FVAP's toll-free fax number, and FVAP will fax the election materials to the UOCAVA voter. FVAP also provides a fax-to-email conversion if the voter does not have a fax machine available.

  • ETS Toll-Free Fax Number: 1-800-368-8683
  • ETS Email Address: ets@fvap.gov
  • ETS Technical Support: 1-800-438-8683
  • Additional Information: ETS Manual for LEOs
DISCLAIMER: The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides an Electronic Transmission Service (ETS) to assist you with transmitting your election materials. FVAP does not guarantee the acceptance or processing of your materials by your election official. As a user of this service, we encourage you to contact your election official directly to verify whether your information was received timely. For additional information on the Federal Post Card Application visit FVAP.gov and refer to the FPCA Fact Sheet.  Late Registration (no later than 29 days before the election)

You or a family member can register later than the 29-day deadline provided you are otherwise qualified, registered by 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the election, and you have:

  • Been discharged or separated from the uniformed services or the U.S. Merchant Marine, 
  • Returned from a military deployment or activation, or 
  • Separated from employment outside the territorial limits of the United States. 

 

Receiving your Ballot

Supervisors of Elections must mail vote-by-mail ballots to military and overseas citizens no later than 45 days before each election; however, you may request that your vote-by-mail ballot be faxed or e-mailed to you. If you include an email address with your vote-by-mail ballot request, the Supervisor will notify you by email that your request has been received. The Supervisor will also provide you the estimated date the ballot will be sent to you and let you know when he or she receives your voted ballot.

 

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

If you do not receive your requested vote-by-mail ballot in time, a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot can be requested as a back-up to vote for any federal, state, or local races. The following conditions must apply: 

  1. You are registered and eligible to vote in this election;
  2. You are an absent stateside or overseas uniformed services personnel or spouse or dependent absent because of the uniformed services personnel or an overseas U.S. citizen;
  3. You have requested a regular vote-by-mail ballot be mailed prior to the deadline, 6 days prior to the election; and 
  4. you have not received the requested regular ballot

A FWAB can be obtained from your Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) or FVAP.gov.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot Fact Sheet

 

Voting your Ballot

Carefully read and follow the instructions that are included with your vote-by-mail ballot to ensure your vote is counted. Failure to sign and date the voter's certificate may result in your ballot not being counted.

 

Returning your Ballot

You may return your voted ballot by mail, courier, or fax. You currently cannot return your ballot via email because state law requires an original signature.

Return the voted ballot so that the Supervisor of Elections receives it no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. A 10-day extension exists only for overseas voters in a Presidential Preference Primary or General Election.

 

Extra Time for Counting of Overseas Ballots

A 10-day extension exists only for overseas voters in a Presidential Preference Primary or General Election. The ballot will be counted, provided the ballot is postmarked or dated no later than the date of the election and received by our office no later than 10 days after the date of the election.

 

How to Track your Vote-by-Mail Ballot

Any voter who requests a vote-by-mail ballot can track his or her Mail Ballot Status to check current and future vote-by-mail requests and see when the ballot was sent and received by our office. Using the online tool, type in the voter's information and scroll down to the current or past elections and click "Show My Mail Ballot Information." 

 

Additional Resources:

ADA Site Compliance-Accessibility Policy
Under Florida law, F.S. 668.6076, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.