Military & Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA)

Military & Overseas Citizens can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which is also known as Standard Form 76, to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot. You can send us your completed application by e-mail, fax, or postal mail. Please see our contact information at the bottom of this site. This form entitles the voter to receive ballots automatically for all elections he/she is eligible to vote in the calendar year the application is received. Federal law requires absentee ballots to be sent to military and overseas citizens at least 45 days prior to any federal election. South Carolina state law requires absentee ballots to be sent to military and over seas citizens at least 45 days prior to any election held.  Military and overseas citizens can receive and return voting materials by fax and email. If you wish to use the fax or email options, you must indicate this on your FPCA in Block 6.

You may download the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) below:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING 2011 FPCA’s and the 2012 SC REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

  • Any military or overseas citizen who submitted an FPCA during the 2011 calendar year will receive an absentee ballot for the 2012 presidential primaries.
    • This is dependent on whether the voter indicated a party preference and whether the preferred party is holding a presidential primary.
  • If your address or other information has changed since your original 2011 FPCA, you should resubmit a new FPCA now.
  • If you wish to vote absentee in other 2012 elections, including the June Primaries and November General Election, you must submit a new FPCA during the 2012 calendar year.
  • For more information on FPCAs and the 2012 Presidential Primaries, click here .

 

To use the FPCA form to register to vote - the completed form must be emailed, faxed, or delivered to our office by the voter registration deadlines below.  If mailed, it must be postmarked by the deadlines below.

Election DateElection NameLast Day to Register to Vote
(Voter Registration Deadline)
November 8, 2011Municipal Elections in:
-Town of Central
-City of Easley
-City of Liberty
-City of Pickens
-Town of Six Mile
Saturday - October 8, 2011
January 21, 2012SC Republican Presidential
Preference Primary
Wednesday - December 21, 2011
Our office will be open 8am to 5pm.
February 7, 2012Town of Six Mile Special ElectionSaturday, January 7, 2011
June 12, 2012Statewide Republican and
Democratic Primaries
Saturday - May 12, 2012
Our office will be open 8am to Noon.
June 26, 2012Republican and
Democratic Primary Runoffs
(If Necessary)
Saturday - May 12, 2012
Our office will be open 8am to Noon.
November 6, 2012Nationwide General ElectionSaturday - October 6, 2012
Our office will be open 8am to Noon.

To use the FPCA form to request an absentee ballot - our office must receive the completed form by the “Deadline to Return State Absentee Form” listed below.  The form can be emailed, faxed, delivered, or mailed to our office.

Election DateElection NameDeadline to Return
State Absentee Form
(Absentee By Mail)
Deadline to Return
Absentee Ballot
(Absentee By Mail)
Deadline for Voting
Absentee In-Person
November 8, 2011Municipal Elections in:
-Town of Central
-City of Easley
-City of Liberty
-City of Pickens
-Town of Six Mile
5:00PM
Friday,
November 4, 2011
7:00PM
Tuesday,
November 8, 2011
5:00PM
Monday,
November 7, 2011
November 22, 2011Liberty Runoff Election5:00PM
Friday,
November 18, 2011
7:00PM
Tuesday,
November 22, 2011
5:00PM
Monday,
November 21, 2011
January 21, 2012Republican Presidential
Preference Primary
5:00PM
Tuesday,
January 17, 2012
7:00PM
Saturday,
January 21, 2012
5:00PM
Friday,
January 20, 2012

What do I need to fill in on the FPCA?  

Only the following blocks are required on the FPCA:

  • Block 1: Select the category that describes you.
  • Block 2: To vote in primary elections, you must enter your political party preference to ensure you receive that party’s ballot. If you want to change your political party preference, submit a completed FPCA indicating your new party preference to our office. Political party preference is not required if only requesting absentee ballots for general elections.
  • Block 3: Name (Last, First, Middle)
  • Block 4: Identification
    • For Race, enter the choice that best describes you from the following list:
      • B/AA = Black/ African American
      • H = Hispanic; A=Asian
      • W = White
      • N= Native American
      • O = Other
    • Date of Birth
    • Full/Complete Social Security Number
  • Block 5: Provide your contact information to allow your local election official to follow up if more information is required.  If at all possible, please provide your email address.  Allowing us to send you your voting materials electronically via email will allow you to receive and return your ballot much quicker than traditional mail.
  • Block 6: South Carolina allows you to receive your absentee ballot by mail, email, or fax. Please rank your preference of how you would like to receive your absentee ballot. Provide your email address or fax number in Block 5. If you do not make a selection, then your local election official will mail your ballot to you.
  • Block 7: Complete street address of your South Carolina voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 9. This address must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.
  • Block 8: Complete address where you want your ballot sent.
  • Block 9:  Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this application.
  • Affirmation: You must sign and date your application. No witness or notary is required required.

Submission Options:

  • Mail the form to the Pickens County Registration & Elections Commission at 222 McDaniel Ave B-9 Pickens, SC 29671.
  • Fax the form to the Pickens County Registration & Elections Commission at 864-898-5637.
  •  Scan the form and email the image as a file attachment to the Pickens County Registration & Elections Commission at the following email address: staceyf@co.pickens.sc.us (attachment cannot be larger than 3mb in size).
Worried You Won’t Receive Your Ballot In Time?

Military & Overseas Citizens can use a Federal Write In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if they are concerned with receiving their printed ballot and returning it by the 7:00 p.m., Election Day deadline. The FWAB is a blank ballot on which voters write-in their choices for all offices, including federal, state, county, and municipal. The FWAB may also be used to register to vote and to apply for the absentee ballot, all in one step. If the FWAB is being used to register to vote, it must be received by the voter registration deadline.  Just like the FPCA, you may submit your FWAB by mail, fax, or email.

IMPORTANT:  Please be sure to submit all pages of the FWAB….Voter’s Declaration/Affirmation page and the Official Write-in Absentee Ballot page.

You may download the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) below:

For general information on voter registration and absentee voting by Military & Overseas Citizens visit the Federal Voting Assistance program’s main page.