The voting rights of U.S. citizens living outside the United States and members of the uniformed services stationed outside Ohio are governed by federal law ( The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act - “UOCAVA” ), as well as state law.
Generally, citizens residing outside the U.S. are eligible to vote in federal elections in the state in which they resided immediately before leaving the U.S. if they were, or could have, registered to vote in that state while residing there, or currently are eligible under state law to vote in that state.
Note: Federal law does not require any state to extend voting eligibility to a person who never resided in that state on the basis that one or both of the person’s parents formerly resided in that state.
An eligible citizen may vote a federal ballot in 2010, for candidates for US Senate & U.S. House of Representatives from the Ohio precinct in which the citizen resided immediately before leaving the U.S. to live in a foreign country, even though that citizen may no longer have ties to, and may not intend to return to, Ohio. The overseas citizen must register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot using the current Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in either the cardstock or online version. The online FPCA can be downloaded from www.fvap.gov. For additional information, UOCAVA voters may visit the Overseas Voting Foundation at www.overseasvotefoundation.org.
A U.S. citizen living abroad may be eligible to vote a regular Ohio ballot in 2009, for municipal offices and local and state-wide issues if the citizen maintains a qualifying voting address in Ohio and has lived outside Ohio less than four consecutive years.
These procedures apply to persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Ohio and overseas citizens. The term “overseas citizen” means a U.S. citizen who resides outside the U.S. and (but for such residence) would be qualified to vote in Ohio.
- Residents of Ohio temporarily residing outside the U.S. (for local, state and Federal office ballots)
- Overseas citizens (for Federal office ballots only)
2009 Deadlines for Civilians Outside the U.S.
Primary Election Date: September 8, 2009
- Registration Deadline: August 10, 2009
- Ballot Request Deadline: September 5, 2009 Noon
- Ballot Return Deadline: September 18, 2009 (mailed from outside the United States; postmarked by Election Day)
Primary Election Date: September 29, 2009
- Registration Deadline: August 31, 2009
- Ballot Request Deadline: September 26, 2009 Noon
- Ballot Return Deadline: October 9, 2009 (mailed from outside the United States; postmarked by Election Day)
General Election Date: November 3, 2009
- Registration Deadline: October 5, 2009
- Ballot Request Deadline: October 31, 2009 Noon
- Ballot Return Deadline: November 14, 2009 (mailed from outside the United States; postmarked by Election Day)
A. Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot
The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is the primary form for requesting registration and/or an absentee ballot from your local election official. To register and request an absentee ballot, send a completed FPCA to the county board of elections so that it arrives not later than 30 days before the election.
To request an absentee ballot if you are already registered, send a completed FPCA to the county board of elections so that it arrives not later than noon on the third day before the election. However, you should submit your request as far in advance of the election as possible. Read all instructions printed on the FPCA before completing and signing your application.
Include the following information:
- Your date of birth.
- You must also include either the last four digits of your Social Security number or your Ohio Driver’s License number.
- Provide the complete street address of your Ohio voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.
- Please print clearly the complete address where you want your ballot sent. Be sure to adhere to the postal regulations for the country to which the ballot is being mailed.
- If you do not list a party affiliation, you cannot vote in partisan primary elections. You must indicate your political party affiliation when applying for a partisan primary ballot (Example: Democrat, Republican) or “issues only” if you want to vote questions and issues and not candidates. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting absentee ballots for nonpartisan primary and general elections. If you voted in a primary election utilizing a FPCA within the last two calendar years and you now want to change your political party choice or you have previously declined to indicate a political party and you now want to vote in a primary election, you must submit a completed FPCA which includes your political party affiliation.
- Include the length of time you resided in Ohio immediately before leaving Ohio. (“I was an Ohio resident for __________.”)
- Submission of a FPCA form serves as a request to receive ballots for all Federal elections held through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. If you do not wish to receive ballots for that length of time, you may request a ballot for each election for Federal office held in the next election year OR a ballot for only the next scheduled election for Federal office by noting your choice here.
- You must sign and date the FPCA. When signing, you are swearing or affirming that the information is true and correct.
B. Casting Your Vote
- Ballot Return Deadline: When returned within the U.S., the voted ballot must arrive at the appropriate county board of election’s office not later than the close of polls on Election Day.
- If you are voting from outside the U.S., your ballot will be counted if it arrives at the appropriate county board of elections not later than 10 days after an election or 20 days after a presidential primary election, as long as it is signed/postmarked not later than the close of polls on election day.
- Local election officials begin mailing absentee ballots not later than 35 days before an election or 25 days before a presidential primary election.
- If you have applied for and not received your absentee ballot for a Federal General Election in a timely manner, use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (valid in a Federal General Election Only).
C. Notary/Witness Requirements
Voting registration forms and absentee voting materials are not required to be notarized or witnessed.
D. Electronic Transmission of FPCA’s and Ballots
Ohio does not allow electronic transmission of the FPCA, the blank absentee ballot or the voted absentee ballot.
Mail the FPCA to:
Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
Absentee Department
2925 Euclid Avenue 2nd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Phone: 216.443.3298