Register to Vote

You may also register to vote by completing a voter registration form and returning it to your county auditor.

Register to Vote and Request an Absentee Ballot

If you would like to register to vote and request an absentee ballot, you may:

1. Complete and sign a federal postcard application (FPCA) and return it to your county auditor.
2. Complete and sign an absentee ballot request form. Return the completed form to your county auditor.
3. Write a letter to your county auditor. Include the following information:

Your absentee ballot request does not have to be witnessed or notarized.

If you would like to request a copy of an absentee ballot request form or a FPCA, please email uocava@sos.iowa.gov.

Request Deadlines

• Receive Ballot By Email or Fax
• Receive Ballot by Mail

Deadlines

Receive Ballot by Email or Fax

If you wish to receive your ballot by email or fax, your request must be received in the county auditor’s office by the close of business on the Monday before the election.

You must provide a valid email address or fax number.

Receive Ballot by Mail

While UOCAVA voters are eligible to request a ballot via mail through the day before the election, request your ballot early to ensure you receive it early enough to return it on time. If you are unsure if you will receive your ballot on time, you may ask the county auditor to email or fax your ballot to you.

If your request is received so late that it is unlikely the absentee ballot can be returned by mail in time to be considered for counting, the county auditor will enclose a statement to that effect with the absentee ballot.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

A FWAB is a completely blank write-in ballot that does not contain any offices or candidates' names. FWABs can only be used for federal elections.

You must be outside the U.S. or on active duty outside your county of residence to use a FWAB.

Returning Your FWAB by Email or Fax

As a military/UOCAVA voter, you may be eligible to return your voted ballot by fax or email if you are an active member of the army, navy, marine corps, merchant marine, coast guard, air force, or Iowa National Guard and are outside the U.S. or any of its territories.

You may also be eligible to return your voted ballot by fax or email if you are located in an area designated as “imminent danger pay area” by the U.S. Department of Defense.

A list of imminent danger pay areas can be found on the U.S. Department of Defense’s website.

If you are eligible to return a voted ballot by email or fax, the FWAB must be received by the time the polls close on election day. For federal elections, the polls close at 9 p.m. (CST).

Returning Your FWAB by Mail

If you are located inside the United States, you must return your voted FWAB by mail. The FWAB must be postmarked by the Monday before election day or earlier and received in the county auditor’s office no later than noon on the Monday following election day.

Postmarks are not guaranteed, so mail your absentee ballot early enough that it arrives before election day.

FWABs are available on FVAP's website and are also distributed at U.S. embassies, consulates and military bases.

Proxy Absentee Ballot Request

A proxy request is an absentee ballot request submitted on behalf of a military/UOCAVA voter by a family member for the general election only. Only certain family members of the voter may submit a request. They include:

• Spouse,
• Parent,
• Parent-in-law
• Adult sibling, or
• Adult child.

The family member must live in the county of the voter’s residence.

Proxy requests can only be used for the general election. The request must be sent to the voter’s county auditor. They cannot be made until 70 days before the election and must be received by the ballot request deadline.

Special Write-In Absentee Ballot

Military/UOCAVA voters who are or will be outside the continental U.S. when regular ballots are available may request this type of ballot.

This type of ballot can be used for the general election only.

Requests for these ballots cannot be made until 120 days before the election and must be made before regular ballots are available. The request must include the following statement:

"To the best of my belief I will be outside the continental United States and unable to vote and return a regular absentee ballot by normal mail delivery within the period provided for regular absentee ballots. I request a special write-in absentee ballot."

Contact the county auditor's office for more information about these ballots.