Aug 10 2022
WEC Extended Hours
Election Administration
Military and Overseas Voters
If you are a military member or a U.S. citizen living overseas, there are federal and state voting protections in place and special procedures you can follow for voting.
What Type of Voter Are You?
You are a “Military Voter” if you are:
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A member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, the Commissioned Corps of the Federal Public Health Service or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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A member of the merchant marine of the United States
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A civilian employee of the United States and civilians officially attached to the uniformed services who are serving outside the United States
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A Peace Corps volunteer
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A spouse or dependent of someone listed above, if you live with or accompany them
Temporary Overseas Voters are U.S. citizens and Wisconsin residents who are temporarily living outside the United States, who intend to return to Wisconsin, and who are otherwise qualified to vote.
Wisconsin’s temporary overseas voters may now receive their absentee ballots electronically – by email or fax – making it easier to vote when they are outside the country. They may now also use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).
You are a permanent overseas voter if you are a U.S. citizen who last resided in Wisconsin, or your parent last resided in Wisconsin, before moving to a foreign country, and you have no intent to return to your prior municipality in Wisconsin.
How to Complete the Voting Process
Military electors are exempt from registration. However, you will need to provide information similar to someone registering to ensure you get the correct ballot.
Temporary Overseas Voters must be registered to vote, and are required to provide proof of residence when registering. Please note that the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) serves as both a voter registration form and absentee ballot request. See more about how to complete and return the FPCA here.
A permanent overseas voter is required to register to vote, but is not required to provide proof of residence. Please note that the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) serves as both a voter registration form and absentee ballot request. See more about how to complete and return the FPCA here.
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A military voter can request and receive an absentee ballot online at My Vote WI: myvote.wi.gov
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You can also complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and mail, fax or email it to your municipal clerk
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Or, you can notify your municipal clerk in writing (by mail, email, or fax) that you are a military voter and are requesting an absentee ballot
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Clerks must receive a military elector’s absentee ballot request no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before an election
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For elections containing a national office on the ballot, military electors who are on active duty away from their residence may request an absentee ballot until 5 p.m. on Election Day
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Temporary Overseas Voters may request a ballot by mail, fax or email.
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An absentee ballot request may be made online at https://myvote.wi.gov or by fax or email to the municipal clerk.
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Temporary Overseas Voters have until 5 p.m. on the 5th day before the election to make a request.
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Temporary overseas voters who are not registered must postmark their registration by the 3rd Wednesday before the election in order to vote.
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If the absentee ballot does not arrive in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is available online, and at U.S. embassies.
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A permanent overseas voter can request and receive an absentee ballot online at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov.
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You can also complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and mail it to your municipal clerk (the FPCA serves as both voter registration AND absentee ballot request).
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Permanent overseas voters who are not registered must postmark their registration by the 3rd Wednesday before the election in order to vote.
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Permanent overseas voters can request an absentee ballot up until 5 p.m. on the 5th day before the election.
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Permanent overseas voters are only eligible to vote in elections that contain a federal office.
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Military electors can choose to receive their absentee ballot by mail, email, or fax. You may not return your voted ballot electronically.
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Military electors can access their absentee ballots online at My Vote WI: myvote.wi.gov
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If a mailed absentee ballot does not arrive in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is available online, at U.S. embassies, and from Military Voting Assistance Officers
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The ballot is mailed, faxed, or emailed per the voter’s request. If the voter does not specify the means of transmission, the clerk may send the ballot via whatever means are practical to expedite receipt of the ballot by the voter.
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Temporary overseas voters who do not receive their ballots in time may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is available online and at U.S. Embassies. Please consult the directory of U.S. Embassy web sites.
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Permanent overseas voters can choose to receive their absentee ballot by mail, email, fax or online. You may not return your absentee ballot electronically.
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Permanent overseas voters can access their absentee ballots online at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov.
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If the absentee ballot does not arrive in time, you may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is available online, and at U.S. embassies.
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You must mark your ballot in the presence of a witness (a military voter's witness need not be a U.S. Citizen)
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After you vote your ballot, place it in the envelope, and complete the absentee ballot certification
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Make sure you sign and date the certificate, provide your date of birth, have a person sign as a witness, and provide the witness' address
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Return your absentee ballot to your municipal clerk by mail
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The absentee ballot must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends absentee ballots be mailed one week before Election Day to arrive on time
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You must mark your ballot in the presence of a witness (an overseas voter's witness does not need to be a U.S. Citizen).
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After you vote your ballot, place it in the envelope, and complete the absentee ballot certification.
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Make sure you sign and date the certificate, provide your date of birth, and have another person sign as a witness, and provide the witness' address.
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Return your absentee ballot to your municipal clerk by mail.
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All voted absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. All voted absentee ballots must be returned by mail to the clerk's office and cannot be returned electronically. Please allow enough time to return the ballot. If you are unable to use public mail or parcel services, consider commercial alternatives.
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You may only vote for federal offices.
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You must mark your ballot in the presence of a witness (an overseas voter's witness does not need to be a U.S. Citizen).
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After you vote your ballot, place it in the envelope, and complete the absentee ballot certification.
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Make sure you sign and date the certificate, have another person sign as a witness, and provide the witness' address.
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Return your absentee ballot to your municipal clerk by mail.
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The absentee ballot must be postmarked by Election Day, and received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Please allow enough time to return the ballot. If you are unable to use public mail or parcel services, consider commercial alternatives.