---
kind: "section"
citation: "52 U.S.C. § 20303"
title: "52"
title_heading: "Voting and Elections"
number: "20303"
heading: "Federal write-in absentee ballot in general elections for Federal office for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/52/20303"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration"
  - "Chapter 203 — Registration and Voting by Absent Uniformed Services Voters and Overseas Voters in Elections for Federal Office"
---

# §20303. Federal write-in absentee ballot in general elections for Federal office for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Federal write-in absentee ballot—** The Presidential designee shall prescribe a Federal write-in absentee ballot (including a secrecy envelope and mailing envelope for such ballot) for use in general, special, primary, and runoff [elections](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3) by [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) who make timely application for, and do not receive, [States](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5),[^1] absentee ballots.
  - (2) **Promotion and expansion of use of Federal write-in absentee ballots—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than December 31, 2011, the Presidential designee shall adopt procedures to promote and expand the use of the Federal write-in absentee ballot as a back-up measure to vote in [elections](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3).
    - (B) **Use of technology—** Under such procedures, the Presidential designee shall utilize technology to implement a system under which the [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) may—
      - (i) enter the address of the voter or other information relevant in the appropriate jurisdiction of the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5), and the system will generate a list of all candidates in the [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3) in that jurisdiction; and
      - (ii) submit the marked Federal write-in absentee ballot by printing the ballot (including complete instructions for submitting the marked Federal write-in absentee ballot to the appropriate [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) official and the mailing address of the single [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) office designated under [section 20302(b) of this title](/usc/52/20302.md?p=b)).
    - (C) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the Presidential designee such sums as may be necessary to carry out this paragraph.
- (b) **Submission and processing—** Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a Federal write-in absentee ballot shall be submitted and processed in the manner provided by law for absentee ballots in the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) involved. A Federal write-in absentee ballot of an [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) shall not be counted—
  - (1) in the case of a ballot submitted by an [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) who is not an [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1), if the ballot is submitted from any location in the United States;
  - (2) if the application of the [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) for a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot is received by the appropriate [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) official after the later of—
    - (A) the deadline of the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) for receipt of such application; or
    - (B) the date that is 30 days before the general [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1); or
  - (3) if a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot of the [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) is received by the appropriate [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) official not later than the deadline for receipt of the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot under [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) law.
- (c) **Special rules—** The following rules shall apply with respect to Federal write-in absentee ballots:
  - (1) In completing the ballot, the [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) may designate a candidate by writing in the name of the candidate or by writing in the name of a political party (in which case the ballot shall be counted for the candidate of that political party).
  - (2) In the case of the offices of President and Vice President, a vote for a named candidate or a vote by writing in the name of a political party shall be counted as a vote for the electors supporting the candidate involved.
  - (3) Any abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party shall be disregarded in determining the validity of the ballot, if the intention of the voter can be ascertained.
- (d) **Second ballot submission; instruction to absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter—** An [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) who submits a Federal write-in absentee ballot and later receives a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot, may submit the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot. The Presidential designee shall assure that the instructions for each Federal write-in absentee ballot clearly [state](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) that an [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) who submits a Federal write-in absentee ballot and later receives and submits a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot should make every reasonable effort to inform the appropriate [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) official that the voter has submitted more than one ballot.
- (e) **Use of approved State absentee ballot in place of Federal write-in absentee ballot—** The Federal write-in absentee ballot shall not be valid for use in a general, special, primary, or runoff [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3) if the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) involved provides a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot that—
  - (1) at the request of the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5), is approved by the Presidential designee for use in place of the Federal write-in absentee ballot; and
  - (2) is made available to [absent uniformed services voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) and [overseas voters](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) at least 60 days before the deadline for receipt of the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) ballot under [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) law.
- (f) **Prohibiting refusal to accept ballot for failure to meet certain requirements—** A [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) shall not refuse to accept and process any otherwise valid Federal write-in absentee ballot submitted in any manner by an [absent uniformed services voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=1) or [overseas voter](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5) solely on the basis of the following:
  - (1) Notarization requirements.
  - (2) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size.
  - (3) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size.
- (g) **Certain States exempted—** A [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) is not required to permit use of the Federal write-in absentee ballot, if, on and after August 28, 1986, the [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) has in effect a law providing that—
  - (1) a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot is required to be available to any voter described in [section 20310(5)(A) of this title](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5-A) at least 90 days before the general, special, primary, or runoff [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3) involved; and
  - (2) a [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) absentee ballot is required to be available to any voter described in [section 20310(5)(B)](/usc/52/20310.md?p=5-B) or (C) of this title, as soon as the official list of candidates in the general, special, primary, or runoff [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3) is complete.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “States’ ”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–410, title I, § 103, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 925; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 566(c), (d), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1919; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, §§ 581(a)(1), (b), 582(b), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2326, 2327; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(d)(3), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4372.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1973ff–2 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2011—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–383 amended Pub. L. 111–84, § 581(a)(1)(C). See 2009 Amendment note below.

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–84, § 581(b), substituted “In general” for “In General” in subsec. (a) heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. (1) heading, and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 111–84, § 581(a)(1)(A), substituted “general, special, primary, and runoff elections for Federal office” for “general elections for Federal office”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–84, § 581(a)(1)(B), substituted “a general, special, primary, or runoff election for Federal office” for “a general election” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–84, § 582(b)(2), added subsec. (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–84, § 582(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g).

Pub. L. 111–84, § 581(a)(1)(C), as amended by Pub. L. 111–383, substituted “the general, special, primary, or runoff election for Federal office” for “the general election” in pars. (1) and (2).

2004—Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(d)(1), substituted “Federal write-in absentee ballot in general elections for Federal office for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters” for “Federal write-in absentee ballot for overseas voters in general elections for Federal office” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(c)(1), substituted “absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters” for “overseas voters”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(c)(2), inserted second sentence and struck out former second sentence which read as follows: “A Federal write-in absentee ballot of an overseas voter shall not be counted—

“(1) if the ballot is submitted from any location in the United States;

“(2) if the application of the overseas voter for a State absentee ballot is received by the appropriate State election official less than 30 days before the general election; or

“(3) if a State absentee ballot of the overseas voter is received by the appropriate State election official not later than the deadline for receipt of the State absentee ballot under State law.”

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(c)(3), substituted “absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter” for “overseas voter”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(c)(4), (d)(2), substituted “absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter” for “overseas voter” in heading and two places in text.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 108–375, § 566(c)(5), substituted “absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters” for “overseas voters”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2011 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(d), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4372, provided that the amendment by section 1075(d)(3) is effective as of Oct. 28, 2009, and as if included in Pub. L. 111–84 as enacted.

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 581(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2326, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect on December 31, 2010, and apply with respect to elections for Federal office held on or after such date.”

Amendment by section 582(b) of Pub. L. 111–84 applicable with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2010 and each succeeding election for Federal office, see section 582(c) of Pub. L. 111–84, set out as a note under section 20302 of this title.