How to get an Absentee Ballot

You may request an absentee ballot by contacting your local county or city election official. Depending on your state, this individual may be the County Clerk, County Auditor, County Registrar or Supervisor of Elections, or the Board of Elections. In most cases, the phone number for these offices is listed in the blue government pages of your phone book. Information on obtaining an absentee ballot may also be found on your state election division/commission web site.

Members of the Armed Forces Who Are Stationed Overseas
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense is responsible for administering the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. This law provides that members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and Merchant Marines and their family members may vote absentee while away from their place of voting residence, wherever stationed, within or outside the United States. For detailed information on registering and obtaining an absentee ballot, please visit the FVAP web site at or call 1-800-438-VOTE (1-800-438-8683) or 1-703-588-1584. If you are outside the U.S., call the appropriate FVAP hotline.

U.S. Citizens Currently Residing Abroad
The FVAP also serves non-military U.S. citizens residing abroad by helping them to register and vote by absentee ballot. For detailed information on registering and obtaining an absentee ballot, please call the appropriate FVAP hotline.