Overview

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) protects the absentee voting rights for U.S. Citizens, including active members of the uniformed services and the merchant marines, and their spouses and dependents who are away from their place of legal voting residence. It also protects the voting rights of U.S. civilians living overseas. Federal, state and local election administrators are charged with ensuring that each UOCAVA voter can exercise the right to vote. In order to meet this responsibility, election officials must provide assorted mechanisms that enable voters who are away from their residences to obtain information and descriptions about voter registration and voting procedure, and how to request, receive, and return their ballots. UOCAVA also establishes requirements for reporting statistics on the effectiveness these mechanisms to the Election Assistance Commission.