Chapter 45. Absent Military and Overseas Voters
1VAC20-45-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Application for an absentee ballot" means a Federal Post Card Application (Form SF-76). A Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (SF-186) is an absentee ballot application only for the voted ballot being submitted and is not an application for future elections.
"Federal-only ballot overseas voter" means a United States citizen residing outside the United States indefinitely who has not provided his last date of residence in Virginia or employment information showing that he is employed overseas or is the spouse or dependent residing with a person employed overseas. The date the applicant has provided next to his affirmation will serve as his last date of residence.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 22, eff. June 10, 2014.
1VAC20-45-20. Voter registration.
A. Presumptions. As provided in 1VAC20-40-30 B, no presumption in favor of or against residence may arise merely on the basis of a person's presence or absence in the following circumstances:
1. While employed in the service of the Commonwealth or United States, whether military or civilian; or
2. While engaged in the navigation of the waters of the United States or of the high seas.
B. Material omissions from applications for voter registration on a Federal Post Card Application or Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot. The following omissions are not material:
1. Service identification number, rank, grade, or rate on an application that declares active duty military status.
2. Employer name and address on an application that declares temporary overseas residence with no date of last residence.
3. Employer name and address on an application that declares temporary overseas residence with a date of last residence. If practicable, the general registrar should inform the applicant that eligibility for full ballots requires providing the name and address of an employer outside the United States.
4. Date of last residence on an application that declares indefinite overseas residence. The date of last residence for an application declaring indefinite overseas residence without indicating a date of last residence in the United States shall be the date the application is signed.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 22, eff. June 10, 2014.
1VAC20-45-30. Electronic submission of Federal Post Card Application.
An applicant eligible for registration who applies for registration simultaneously with a request for an absentee ballot on a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) as authorized by §§ 24.2-458 and 24.2-703 of the Code of Virginia may apply for registration as well as request an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or scanned email attachment. An electronically submitted FPCA shall be sufficient to apply for registration and request an absentee ballot if signed and otherwise complete.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 22, eff. June 10, 2014.
1VAC20-45-40. Material omissions from Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots.
A. Pursuant to the requirements of §§ 24.2-467, 24.2-702.1, and 24.2-706 of the Code of Virginia, a timely received write-in absentee ballot on a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (Form SF-186) should not be rendered invalid if it contains an error or omission not material to determining the eligibility of the applicant to vote in the election in which the applicant offers to vote.
B. If the applicant is not registered, the FWAB may not be accepted as timely for registration unless the applicant has met the applicable registration deadline. Section 24.2-419 of the Code of Virginia extends the mail registration deadline for certain military applicants. All applications requesting mailed ballots are subject to the mail absentee application deadline in §§ 24.2-459 and 24.2-701 of the Code of Virginia.
C. The following omissions are always material and any FWAB containing such omissions should be rendered invalid if on the declaration/affirmation any of the following, or combination thereof, exists:
1. The applicant has omitted the signature of the voter or the notation of an assistant in the voter signature box that the voter is unable to sign;
2. The applicant did not provide the applicant's birth year;
3. The applicant did not provide the last four digits of the applicant's social security number, or if the applicant’s voter registration includes a statement of affirmation that the applicant has never been issued a social security number, the unique identifier assigned to the applicant in the voter registration system pursuant to § 24.2-404 A 1 of the Code of Virginia;
4. The applicant did not include the declaration/affirmation page; or
5. The applicant omitted from the declaration/affirmation information required by § 24.2-702.1 of the Code of Virginia needed to determine identity or eligibility including current military or overseas address.
D. The ballot should not be rendered invalid if on the FWAB any of the following, or combination thereof, exists:
1. The applicant has not listed the names specifically in the order of last, first, and middle name;
2. The applicant has listed a middle initial or maiden name, instead of the full middle name;
3. The applicant has omitted the street identifier, such as the term "road" or "street," when filling in the legal residence;
4. The applicant has omitted the county or city of registration if the county or city is clearly identifiable by the residence address information provided;
5. The applicant has omitted the zip code;
6. The applicant has omitted the date of the signature of the voter;
7. The applicant did not seal the ballot within the security envelope so long as the outside envelope containing the ballot and the voter's declaration/affirmation page arrived sealed; or
8. The applicant has submitted a ballot containing offices or issues for which the applicant is not eligible.
Statutory Authority
§ 24.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 22, eff. June 10, 2014; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 2, eff. September 4, 2014; Volume 38, Issue 10, eff. December 21, 2021; Volume 39, Issue 24, eff. July 3, 2023.
Forms (1VAC20-45)
Envelope B for Statement of UOCAVA Absentee Voter, 42 USC 1973ff-1 (rev. 7/13)