Organisation : Virginia Department of Elections
Facility : Federal Write in Absentee Ballot FWAB
Country : Virginia
Federal Write in Absentee Ballot FWAB : http://elections.virginia.gov/index.php/registration/military-overseas/
Home Page : http://elections.virginia.gov/
Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the FWAB :
** Please be sure to complete the Voter Affirmation/Declaration page of your Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) and include a witness signature.
** In the presence of your witness, you will mark the ballot by writing in the names of your chosen candidates and choices on ballots issues (e.g., constitutional amendments).
** Both you and the witness must sign and date the Voter Affirmation/Declaration page.
** Please remember this can be done only after you have completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
** Your FWAB form includes an affirmation under felony penalty of perjury that you submitted a FPCA.
** FVAP offers a postage paid return envelope template (.pdf) that the voter addresses to the appropriate election official to receive your ballot.
** (Certain restrictions apply to postage rates. See Step 10.)
** FVAP also offers a security envelope template (.pdf) that the voter uses to seal the marked ballot for return. (See step 4.)
** Any adult 18 or older is permitted to act as your witness.
** Mark your ballot in the presence of your witness (but not in a way that the witness can see your vote).
** Carefully follow the instructions on the ballot to make sure that your vote will count.
** Once you have finished voting, fold your ballot in thirds (so that it will fit in a standard size envelope).
** Place your voted ballot into the blank, sealable security envelope that you provide. You may, but are not required to, use the FVAP security envelope template.
** In the presence of your witness, complete, sign and date the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation.”
** PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME next to your signature.
** Have your witness sign the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” at the space provided for the witness.
** Put the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” in the return mailing envelope outside of the sealed security envelope.
** Please do not include anything other than your ballot in the sealed security envelope.
** The “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” must be completed, dated and signed (by both you and your witness).
** Seal and address the mailing envelope using the address provided to you.
** Please be sure to write your name and return address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope so that we can identify your ballot as belonging to you.
** Address your mailing envelope to: Secretary of the Electoral Board, Attention Absentee Voting Officer, [LOCALITY ADDRESS].
** Return your ballot using U.S. Postal Service mail or a commercial delivery service (such as UPS or Federal Express).
** You may, but are not required, to use the FVAP return envelope template to create an envelope that can be mailed free of postage only when deposited at a U.S. Post Office, an overseas U.S. military Post Office, or an American Embassy or American Consulate using either the U.S. Postal Service or FPO/APO mail system.
** Otherwise, you will have to pay the proper amount of postage.
** If used, the return envelope template must be printed (not stapled, taped or glued) onto your mailing envelope.
** Please verify acceptance of your mail with proper postage or prepayment marking to avoid delays that could prevent timely receipt of your voted ballot.
Important – Virginia Law Requires That :
** You fill out the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation”, sign and date it, and have your signature witnessed.
** If you have not filled out the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” completely, or if you have forgotten to sign or date it or you have no witness, your vote may not count.
** To receive future ballots, you must also complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) .
** You can complete and submit a FPCA along with a Federal Write-In Application (FWAB).
** The “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” should be OUTSIDE of the sealed Security Envelope containing your ballot.
** If the “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” cannot be found, your vote may not count.
** Your voted ballot must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
** If you requested, and we failed to send you a state ballot on time, you may be eligible for extended time.
** Please return your voted ballot as soon as possible.
Important Notice to Virginia Users of the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) :
** You may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) to register and vote absentee in all elections in which you are eligible to vote, subject to applicable deadlines.
** Please note that if you have applied by by Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and both your state absentee ballot and completed FWAB are received on time, only your state ballot will be counted.
** You may use the FWAB to vote anytime before the deadline for returning your ballot, however, the FWAB is an emergency backup ballot used if you have concerns that the ballot requested on the FPCA may not arrive on time to be counted.
** Citizens residing overseas indefinitely (“do not intend to return”) may only be eligible to vote for federal offices (President, Vice President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives) unless overseas employment information is provided on the FPCA and any FWAB you submit.
** Please contact us or your local general registrar’s office if you have any question about the offices for which you are eligible to vote in Virginia.
** It is a felony in Virginia to knowingly vote when you are not eligible to do so.
Once you are finished voting, the package you return will consist of :
** Your voted ballot which will be inside of
** A blank, sealed security envelope (which you supply) containing only your voted ballot and nothing else.
** The form titled “Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation” which has been completed, signed and dated by you and a witness.
** A return mailing envelope (which you supply) addressed to Secretary of the Electoral Board, Attention Absentee Voting Officer, [LOCALITY ADDRESS].
** Please include your current mailing address in the return address area in the upper left corner.
** The mailing envelope should contain both your sealed ballot security envelope and your completed Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation signed by you and a witness.
** For your own privacy, please remember not to place anything other than your voted ballot in the security envelope.