Voting is one of our fundamental rights as U.S. citizens. Members of the military, their families, and Americans living abroad can choose to exercise that right from anywhere in the world through voting by mail/absentee voting. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are part of this process.

The absentee voting process applies to U.S. citizens protected by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA):

• Members of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps)

• Members of the Merchant Marines

• Eligible family members of the above

• U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.

Each state has mail-in voting, but some states only allow a person to vote by mail in certain circumstances. For example, some states only allow voting by mail when the citizen has applied for an absentee ballot—also known as a ballot by mail.

Voting procedures and requirements for state and federal elections are generally governed by state law and vary from state to state.

In Ohio, voting by mail, also known as absentee voting, is available to all voters, including members of the military, their families, and U.S. citizens living abroad, without the need for a specific reason or excuse. This process is protected under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which ensures that these groups can participate in federal elections regardless of where they are stationed or residing. Ohio residents who are eligible under UOCAVA can request an absentee ballot through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). The state provides specific guidelines for requesting, completing, and returning absentee ballots, and these guidelines must be followed to ensure that the ballot is counted. The Ohio Secretary of State's office provides detailed information and resources to assist UOCAVA voters with the absentee voting process. Additionally, the United States Postal Service (USPS) plays a crucial role in the timely delivery of absentee ballots to and from voters. It's important for voters to be aware of registration deadlines and ballot submission deadlines to ensure their votes are counted.