USAGov's Voting Guide for Military Members and Americans Abroad

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you're an American living abroad or a member of a military family and duty calls you out of the country this November, it doesn't mean you have to put your vote on hold; it just means that your voting process will be a little different.

USAGov is committed to informing and making sure members of the military, their families, and other Americans outside the U.S. don't miss the chance to vote in 2016. Follow this Voting Guide for Military Members and Americans Abroad:

Step 1: Register

No matter which state you're from or where you'll be voting, you must register by your state's deadline. Complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This will allow you to cast your vote from outside the U.S. Remember, your family can also participate. If a military spouse or eligible family member lives outside the legal voting jurisdiction, they can vote absentee in all federal elections.

Step 2: Receive your ballot and send your vote home

Make sure your vote counts. Once your ballot arrives and you vote, mail it back on time and to the right address. Each state has its own way of doing things. Some have deadlines for receiving the ballot and others set a deadline for when it should be mailed.

If you requested an absentee ballot and haven't received it at least 30 days before the election, you can vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). You can fill in and print out the PDF version or use the online assistant. The FWAB serves as a write-in backup ballot that can be used for the election.

Step 3: Make sure the ballot arrives

Contact your state to make sure they received your ballot and it's counted on Election Day. The process is similar to a voter in the mainland who casts an absentee or provisional ballot.

Step 4: Sit back and watch democracy at work

Once you've gone through the whole process, you can follow the results on Election Day and witness American democracy at work.

If you run into a problem at any point in the registration and absentee voting process, you can contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) hotline toll-free: 1-800-438-VOTE (8683), DSN: 425-1584; call one of their offices around the world; or get in touch by postal or e-mail with any issues. If you're a military member, you can also contact the Service Voting Action Officer that corresponds to your branch.

Stay up-to-date with VoteUSA, USAGov's yearlong effort to help Americans become more informed about the 2016 election. Join the conversation using #VoteUSA or by following USAGov on Facebook and Twitter. 

USAGov is a federal program that guides you to tips and tools in English and in Spanish from hundreds of government agencies, departments, and programs. We make it easier for you to find answers you can trust about government information and services--online, by phone, e-mail or chat, and in print.

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