Military and Overseas Voter Information

Military and Overseas Voter information including registration options and how to get your ballot by mail or access it online.

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Military and Overseas Voters (UOCAVA)

Register or Update Registration | Voting | Election Information

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) – Applies to:

  • U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services the Merchant Marine, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their family members, and;
  • U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.

This Act provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for these citizens.

If you are in the military or living out of the county, it is very important you are registered as a UOCAVA voter. UOCAVA ballots are mailed at least 45 days before an election; local ballots are mailed 20 days before an election. Once registered, UOCAVA voters have the option of accessing their ballot online along with the required forms and then have the option to return them by email or fax.

Register or update your registration

  • As a Military or Overseas voter, your residence address is your last Oregon residence address. There are two options to register as a Military or Overseas voter:
    • Option one: Online at My Vote - If you have an Oregon Drivers license you can register or update online (if you don’t have an Oregon Drivers License, use Option Two).
      • As a Military or Overseas voter, your residence address is your last Oregon residence address. Make sure to check the box under Mailing Address that you will be away from home on election day and then on the next screen the type of voter you are and your Military or Overseas address.
    • Option two: Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
      • Use the Federal Post Card Application (PDF). Complete the form and sign it. Return the form by email to elections@multco.us by either scanning it to pdf or taking a photo. The FPCA form does not require an Oregon driver's license/ID or a social security number. Though the second page of this form is formatted for it to be mailed back, it does not need to be mailed if it has been sent by email.
      • FVAP.gov – This link is another way to access the FPCA form.
  • As a Military or Overseas voter, your Oregon residence address is your last Oregon residence address. It does not need to be an address you plan to return to.
  • If you are living abroad as an overseas voter, an overseas mailing address must be provided, as Oregon law requires that a ballot be mailed to that overseas address. It does not need to be an address that you will receive mail at. Once you are registered as an overseas voter, however, you will have the option of accessing your ballot and required forms online, but a ballot must also be mailed. Eligible military voters (active Uniformed service, Merchant marine and National Guard) and eligible spouses or dependents should use the appropriate mailing address (foreign or domestic) where they are stationed or receive mail.
  • Please note, when registering as an overseas voter, it is very important to mark the correct classification for your circumstance.
    Image that shows check boxes for FPCA registration form
    • Eligible military voters (active Uniformed service, Merchant marine and National Guard) and eligible spouses or dependents always receive a full ballot.
    • If you mark that your return is uncertain, you will receive a ballot with only Federal candidates (U.S. President, U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress). If you are a U.S citizen residing outside of the U.S. and intend to return at some point in the future, make sure to mark the box that you intend to return. That way, you will receive a full ballot with Federal, State and Local candidates and ballot measures.
    • If you mark that you are a U.S. Citizen living outside the country, but have never lived in the U.S., you must also complete the
      and send it with the FPCA registration.
  • Please see the flowchart below for more information on the types of ballots that UOCAVA voters will receive.

Voting

If you are registered as a military or overseas voter, your ballot will be mailed to you at least 45-days prior to the election. If you update or register after that date, you will be mailed a ballot to your military/overseas address as soon as we receive the military/overseas registration. Oregon law requires that we mail you a ballot, but you have the option of accessing your ballot online. Please see the information below.

Military and overseas voters registered in Oregon have options in voting. Those options include how to mark the ballot and how to return the ballot. During the voting period, military & overseas registered voters can access and mark their ballot online by visiting My Vote, hosted by the Oregon Secretary of State's office. Please note, the online system will not work in the following countries. If you have any issues accessing your ballot online at My Vote, please contact Multnomah County Elections.

Image below of the link UOCAVA voters will need to click on (red arrow), once you log into My Vote to access your ballot and required forms.

Image that shows My Vote and arrows on where to access the ballot and the required forms

Military and overseas voters can mail, fax or email their ballot back. The email to return the ballot is elections.ballot@multco.us. Please note, these options are only available to military and overseas voters. All other voters must return their ballot by mail.

Election Information

Election Information for Military & Overseas Voters

Last reviewed October 14, 2024

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