SF 76: Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
The Federal Post Card Application, standard form SF 76, lets service members, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad register to vote and request absentee ballots with a single form.
This is the genuine FVAP (DoD) PDF, unmodified. Source: FVAP (DoD) official page.
What is SF 76?
SF 76, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), is the form protected by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) that states must accept from absent uniformed services voters and overseas citizens. One form does two jobs: it registers you to vote, or updates your registration, in your state of legal voting residence, and it requests absentee ballots for federal elections.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) maintains the form and an online assistant that fills it in for you. FVAP recommends submitting a new FPCA every year, and whenever you move or your mailing address changes, so election officials always have current information. States differ on whether they accept the form by mail, email, fax, or an online portal, so the state-specific instructions matter.
Who files SF 76?
- Active duty members of the uniformed services voting away from their voting residence
- Eligible spouses and family members of uniformed services voters
- U.S. citizens living outside the United States, whether temporarily or indefinitely
- Voters in these groups who need to update their address or renew their absentee ballot request for the year
How to fill out SF 76
- Confirm your state of legal voting residence; for most military voters this is the state of your home of record, not where you are stationed.
- Complete your identification, including the ID number your state requires, your voting residence address, and your current mailing address.
- Choose how you want to receive your blank ballot (mail, email, or fax, as your state allows) and note any party preference required for primary elections.
- Sign and date the form; some states require the signature to match records or be witnessed, so read the state instructions.
- Send the FPCA to your local election official in your state of voting residence by the method your state accepts, and submit a new one each year and after every move.
Quick fill SF 76 on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open SF 76 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I send my FPCA?
To the local election official (county or city clerk, board of elections, or equivalent) for your voting residence, not to FVAP or any federal office. FVAP's website lists each state's addresses, accepted transmission methods, and deadlines.
What if my ballot never arrives?
Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a backup. If you submitted an FPCA on time but have not received your state ballot close to the election, the FWAB lets you vote for federal offices and mail it in; if your state ballot later arrives, complete and return it too.
How often should I submit a new FPCA?
FVAP recommends a fresh FPCA every year, ideally in January, and any time your address changes. Some states only keep an absentee request active for a limited period, so an annual submission keeps ballots coming.