The draft hardcopy paper forms for the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) are available for review and comment on the Federal Register until May 28, 2021.
Background
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires that the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) prescribe the two standard federal forms, and make them available for review and public comment every three years. The FPCA (SF-76) can be used to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and update contact information, while the FWAB (SF-186) serves as a backup ballot if the voter doesn’t receive a requested state ballot in time.
FVAP leverages feedback from voters and election officials to suggest updates to the forms to better assist the federal election absentee voting process. Once updated, these forms, will support federal elections and the administration of UOCAVA through the 2022 election cycle.
Proposed changes
The revised forms simplify and clarify the instructions for voters and include:
- consolidation of the overseas citizen voter categories from three to one;
- updates to states identified as requiring specific information unique to the state;
- clarification of ballot submission instructions (FWAB); and
- updates to the FWAB to reduce confusion in the case of special elections.
Form usability is an essential part of the redesign process. To help ensure that voters find the form easy and intuitive, FVAP asks that you please download and complete it as if you were registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or voting the FWAB.
How to comment
Use the links below to provide comments on content, design and/or usability. There are two links for each form, the posted notice where formal comments can be submitted, and the download page for the draft form. You can write your comments on each form in a box and/or upload documents with your comments.
- Click here to download and view the Draft FPCA Form.
- Click here to view the FPCA Federal Register Notice and comment on the draft FPCA form.
- Click here to download and view the draft FWAB.
- Click here to view the FWAB Federal Register Notice and comment on the draft FWAB.
Deadline
Send in your comments and usability feedback on the Federal eRulemarking Portal using the links above by May 28, 2021.