HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Voting is a cornerstone of American democracy, and service members protect those rights to vote. Unfortunately, many view the process of voting as an obstacle due to frequent moves or deployments.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is a federal protection that ensures military members do not lose voting rights in their state of legal residence because they moved or are not physically present due to their service. SCRA affords this protection to military spouses as well.
In cases where service members or their spouses have established legal residency in one location but are located elsewhere, absentee ballots can be used - including while on a deployment.
If you or someone you know needs to vote by absentee ballot, follow these four steps:
1. Complete the Federal Post Card Application at https://www.fvap.gov/vote. This application is standardized for use across all states. It acts as both a registration and absentee ballot request form for all federal elections. Military members are encouraged to fill out a new FPCA every year and each time they move.
2. Sign and send the FPCA to the election office in the county you have established legal residency. You can find the mailing address and information about your state’s residency requirements by going online to www.fvap.gov/vote.
3. Once the FPCA has been approved, you will receive your absentee ballot in the mail.
4. After you vote and sign your ballot, return it to your state of legal residency following the instructions on the ballot before the stated deadline. Your ballot being postmarked before the deadline can impact whether or not your vote is counted, so make sure you pay close attention to the due date.
Thanks to the SCRA, service members and their spouse’s right to vote through absentee ballots will be protected for as long as they serve. For further information on requesting your absentee ballots, refer to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov/vote or contact the Hanscom Legal Office at 781-225-1410.