Overseas and Military Voters

Suburban Cook County voters who live overseas or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces may register to vote and apply for a mail ballot by completing a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA).  The FPCA is current for one calendar year and ensures that the voter will automatically be sent a mail ballot for each election held in that year. 
 

The following categories of voters are eligible to use the FPCA:

  • U.S. citizens who no longer maintain a residence in suburban Cook County but lived there immediately prior to relocating abroad*

  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and dependents stationed in the U.S. or abroad and whose last civilian address was in suburban Cook County*

  • U.S. citizens whose permanent residence is in suburban Cook County but will be temporarily residing abroad on Election Day*

* In all of these instances, you are eligible to vote by mail even if you are not currently registered. Your FPCA will serve as a registration application as well.
 

Step 1 - Apply by completing a FPCA

APPLY by completing a FPCA. The FPCA can be sent back in one of three ways:

  • By email: [email protected]
  • By fax: (312) 603-9784
  • By mail:
    Cook County Clerk's Office
    C/O Mail Voting Department - UOCAVA Program
    69 W. Washington St., Room 500
    Chicago, IL 60602
    USA
Step 2 - Submitting your application

Submit your FPCA by mail, email or fax. If you applied through the Illinois Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) site from the State Board of Elections, you must still complete and return the FPCA by mail, email or fax.

Step 3 - Ballot will be delivered

BALLOT will be delivered by email or mail, depending upon which option you chose when you complete your FPCA.

Step 4 - Vote!

VOTE! If you received the ballot by mail, follow the instructions in the Mail Voting Instructions - Make Your Vote Count! brochure you received.  If you received an email, follow the instructions within the email and then access your ballot at vote.uocava.com/cook, a secure website where you can log in, vote your ballot online, print your voted ballot and print the accompanying ballot materials.

Step 5 - Mail your ballot

All voted ballots and certification documents must be returned to the Clerk's office by mail, even if you received it by email or fax.

Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.


Use the Your Voter Information tool:

  • Verify your voter registration
  • See your sample ballot, when available;
  • See a list of your elected officials and their contact information;
  • Check your mail ballot status.

For more information: