Military & Overseas Citizens Voters

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) protects the voting rights for Uniformed Services members and members of the US merchant marine, their families and all US citizens residing outside of the United States. In Massachusetts, these voters are called Specially Qualified Voters.

The primary form for requesting an absentee ballot for Specially Qualified Voters is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

If you are already a registered voter who temporarily overseas sees the Elections page.

Federal Post Card Application

Download and print the Federal Post Card Application (PDF).

The Federal Voter Assistance Program has complete instructions on filling out the FPCA.

Remember to include an email address. E-mail is the fastest way to communicate.

Ballot Requests

Absentee voters should request an absentee ballot at least 60 days before an election. This will allow enough by-mail transit time.

The FPCA must be received in the Clerk’s Office by NOON the Monday before an election.

FPCA forms may be mailed, faxed, or scanned and e-mailed to our office. See contact information below.

Eligibility to Vote in Wilbraham

Overseas Citizens

May vote in Wilbraham if it is the community where the citizen last resided immediately prior to departing the US.

Military Citizens

May vote in Wilbraham if the citizen’s present domicile (place where he lives and plans to remain) is Wilbraham and the citizen is out of town due to active service in the Uniformed Services, US merchant marine, or that citizen’s spouse or family member.

The Town Clerk’s Office and Board of Registrars determines a citizen’s eligibility to vote in Wilbraham. On the FPCA please include as much information regarding your Wilbraham address as possible – including the year you last lived in Wilbraham.

Returning Ballots

Local & Primary Elections

Ballots must be received by the close of polls Election Day

General Elections

Ballots mailed from outside the US must be postmarked by election day and received by 5 p.m. no later than 10 days after the Election. Faxed and e-mailed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. election day.

Tips

For information on returning ballots please see the Massachusetts Voting Assistance Guide.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) (PDF) is only available to UOCAVA voters who have timely requested but not received their regular absentee ballot.

The Federal Write-In Ballot is available through Voting Assistance Officers at military installations, embassies, consulates and online, Federal Write-In Ballot

For more information consult The Federal Voter Assistance Program.