MOVE ACT MAKES ABSENTEE VOTING EASIER FOR OVERSEAS VOTERS

STATES ARE NOW REQUIRED TO MAKE BLANK BALLOTS AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

The MOVE ACT, signed into law by President Obama on October 28, 2009, contains the most significant changes in absentee voting procedures in 24 years.  Now, each state is required to make blank ballots available by e-mail, fax, or downloadable via a state website.  The states are still working to comply with this new law, but this is a first, very important step towards Internet Voting.

Even if you have already registered for an absentee ballot, you must submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form this year which includes your e-mail address (or the e-mail address of a close family member or friend) and indicate how you want your blank ballot delivered (mail/fax/e-mail).  [See item 4c on the FPCA].  The FPCA form can be found at http://www.fvap.gov/.  

If you indicate “by e-mail” but your state only uses fax, local election officials may default to a delivery by mail procedure.  States that opt to post an absentee ballot on the state website may use the e-mail address provided to send access instructions for downloading a blank ballot. Please use the space in Item 6 on the FPCA to choose the delivery option you prefer.

If you do not request a new ballot via this process, you will be put on the list to receive your ballot by mail.  While it’s true that ballots are being mailed out 45 days before Election Day (another MOVE Act requirement), voters in countries with poor or erratic mail service are still at risk of not receiving absentee ballots at all.

For the latest information on the MOVE Act and absentee voting, please visit http://www.fvap.gov/