May 4, 2024
days hours minutes
El Paso County Elections Department | Lisa Wise, Elections Administrator

FPCA-Military and Overseas

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and merchant marines, their dependents and U.S. Citizens abroad are eligible to vote early by mail once the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is completed and received by the Early Voting Clerk’s office. Military and overseas voters are welcome to use the regular registration and Early Voting by mail process available to all voters away from their home county on Election Day. However, there are also special provisions for you.

Who can use the FPCA?

  1. Active duty, military, spouses, and dependents
  2. U.S. Citizens (nonmilitary) temporarily or permanently overseas

*Federal law defines “overseas” as anywhere outside the United States. If you are not one of these voters, you need a regular ballot by mail application.

Where can I get an automated FPCA?

Here are two resources for obtaining an automated FPCA:

Federal Post Card Application (PDF)

Federal Voting Assistance Program with the U.S. Department of Defense

By when must the Early Voting Clerk receive my FPCA?

The Early Voting Clerk must receive your ballot request by the close of regular business day in the Early Voting Clerk’s office or 12 noon, whichever is later, on the 11th day before Election Day unless that day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal state or national holiday, in which case the last day is the first preceding regular business day.

Your application is valid for one calendar year (January-December). If you move please notify us as soon as possible.

How may you send your FPCA to the Early Voting Clerk?

Send your FPCA via:

  1. Hard copy by regular mail, Attn: Early Voting Clerk, 500 E. San Antonio Ave., Suite #314, El Paso, Texas 79901
  2. Common or contract carrier
  3. Fax (915) 546-2220. An FPCA submitted via fax only must also be submitted by mail and received at our office no later than the 4th business day after the FPCA is sent via fax only
  4. E-mail (scanned image of signed form, no electronic signature) to ballotrequests@epcounty.com.

How and when must I return the ballot?

Mail your ballot in the envelope provided by mail or common or contract carrier. A ballot may not be returned to the Early Voting Clerk by any other method. If military voter (or spouse or dependent) in hostile fire pay/imminent danger pay/combat zone, your voted ballot may be faxed using authorized channels to (915) 546-2220.

The Early Voting Clerk must receive your voted ballot no later than 7:00 p.m. Election Day or by the 6th day after Election Day if your ballot is submitted from outside the United States.

Track the progress of your FPCA and ballot?

The federal Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (MOVE) created new requirements for states to provide FPCA voters a method to track the status of their ballot in federal elections. The Texas Secretary of State’s Office provides a ballot tracking website, please click the link below.

Texas Secretary of State: FPCA Ballot Tracker

I’m overseas and I don’t think I will receive my ballot on time?

The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is a write-in absentee ballot that can be used as a backup when the voter is living outside the voting residence and has not received the requested ballot in time to vote by the election deadline. We encourage voters to contact us at (915) 546-2154 or ballotrequests@epcounty.com to confirm that their FPCA was successfully processed before submitting a FWAB.

The FWAB can only be mailed to:

Early Voting Clerk
500 E. San Antonio Ave., Suite #314
El Paso, Texas 79901

Please click below to download form:
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot Form (PDF)

Digital Stickers

Thank you for voting by mail! We still wanted to make sure you’re able to celebrate casting your vote, so we’ve created a digital “I Voted” sticker.

Save one of the images below on your phone or computer. Share it on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to show your voting pride!



Download our mobile app!
Download our mobile app!

The El Paso County Elections Department app is the essential app for voters in the El Paso, Texas region. See if you are registered to vote, find your nearest Early Voting Location, find your nearest Election Day Countywide Vote Center, and get all of the information you need to prepare for the election!

Download on the App Store
Get It On Google Play
Registered voters as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024
505,200

What's Happening Now

Important Dates: May 2024 Uniform Election
Published on: Monday, February 26, 2024

Thursday, April 4, 2024 Last day to register to vote. Monday, April 22, 2024 First day of Early Voting by personal appearance. Tuesday, April 23, 2024 Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail. (Received, not postmarked). Tuesday, April 30,... Read More

Important Dates: March 2024 Primary Election
Published on: Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Monday, February 5, 2024 Last day to register to vote. Tuesday, February 20, 2024 First day of Early Voting by personal appearance. First business day after Presidents’ Day. Friday, February 23, 2024 Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail.... Read More

Important Dates: January 2024 City of El Paso Runoff Election
Published on: Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Thursday, December 21, 2023 Last day to register to vote. Wednesday, January 3, 2024 First day of Early Voting by personal appearance. Tuesday, January 9, 2024 Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail. (Received, not postmarked). Tuesday, January... Read More