Frequently Asked Questions

There is no due date for the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA); you may submit it any time during the year. However, you should submit it as far ahead of the election as possible to avoid delays in receiving your ballot.

Yes. You can receive the ballot by mail, fax, or email. You will need to indicate on your application how you would like to receive the ballot.

No. Regardless of how you received the ballot, you must return your voted ballot by mail to the election official the ballot was received from.

Ballots are sent out by election officials, upon receipt of the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA), at least 46 days prior to the election; ballots are sent as quickly as possible for those voters whose applications were received fewer than 46 days before the election. Ballots sent by mail are airmailed to addresses outside the continental U.S. A ballot will be sent to the voter by an express mail service if a prepaid envelope is provided to the county auditor’s office.

Note: A voted ballot sent by US. mail or package delivery must arrive back at the county no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. A voter may drop off their own voted ballot in person to the county auditor, municipal clerk or school district clerk from whom the ballot was received by 3:00 p.n. on Election Day. A voter may also ask someone else (known as an agent) to return their sealed signature envelope in person to the county auditor or clerk from whom the ballot was received. A ballot brought back by an agent must also be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Election Day. An absentee ballot MAY NOT be returned to election judges in a polling place.

UOCAVA voters who submit timely absentee ballot applications but never receive their ballots or those concerned that they will not be able to return their ballots in time to be counted may submit the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as an alternative. The Minnesota Military and Overseas Voter Service also has a service to help voters complete the FWAB.

Special conditions apply to voters using this ballot: the voter must be eligible under UOCAVA and the county auditor must have received their Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). A FWAB allows a voter to write in choices for all offices. For federal offices you may indicate your choice by writing in a candidate name or political party. When voting for state or local offices on the FWAB, you must write the name of the candidate (not just the party) for your vote to be counted.

Minnesota allows UOCAVA voters to self-certify their Federal Postcard Application (FPCA), their ballot return envelope, and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). This can be accomplished by using the same voter's passport number, MN driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of the voter's social security number on all forms throughout the process. If the voter does not have access to any of these documents, the voter may attest to the truthfulness of the information under penalty of perjury. For assistance, overseas citizens should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate, and military personnel should contact their Voting Assistance Officer (VAO).