TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Elections
Military and Overseas Voting by Mail (Absentee Ballot)
U.S. citizens residing outside the United States, along with members of the Uniformed Services and their family members, are eligible to use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form to request a ballot by mail. The FPCA also serves as an application for voter registration for eligible citizens not currently registered to vote. Please review the requirements and information for requesting a ballot via the FPCA form.
If you are not an active duty Uniformed Service members, spouse or dependent of Uniformed Service Members or a U.S. citizen residing outside the United States view voting by mail Information for Texas residences.
Review the FPCA information provided on the Texas Secretary of State FPCA Website
Texas Residency
Having a permanent residence address in Tarrant County is a prerequisite to requesting ballots from Tarrant County. Residence is defined in Section 1.015 of the Texas Election Code as the voter’s permanent home to which he or she intends to return after any temporary absence. This definition implies that you must have lived at the location at one time and intend to return, so generally you cannot list a location where you have never been physically present.
U.S. citizens whose most recent domicile was in Tarrant County, but whose intent to return is uncertain may vote a federal ballot only. Voters in this category must indicate in the “Remarks” area of the FPCA that they are applying for a federal ballot only.
How to Obtain the FPCA Form?
Postage-paid FPCA forms are available from U.S. embassies, consulates, and from the Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) at each military installation. An interactive online FPCA application is also available through the Federal Voting Assistance Program:
It is strongly recommended that FPCA applicants provide an e-mail address, telephone number, and/or fax number (if available) in the appropriate sections of the FPCA so that we can quickly contact you if your application is missing required information.
An FPCA form in PDF format that you can download, print, and complete by-hand is also available from the website of the Federal Voting Assistance Program:
- Blank FPCA Form
- Newer versions of web browsers will require the use "Adobe Reader" to properly use this form, Free download of Adobe Reader . Tarrant County is not responsible for applications downloaded to your computer. Please contact your technical support for assistance. Tarrant County does not provide technical support.
Dates for submitting the Completed FPCA
In order to receive a full ballot, the FPCA application must be received by the Elections Department no later than the 11th day before election day AND the applicant is already registered to vote in Tarrant County.
An FPCA applicant will receive a federal ballot ONLY if the FPCA is submitted after the 20th day before election day and the person is NOT already registered to vote in Tarrant County.
Receiving your Ballot?
If your completed FPCA is timely received, your ballot will be sent to you by mail (or email if indicated on your completed FPCA). Texas law does not allow you to receive the blank ballot by fax.
Submitting the Completed FPCA Form?
A completed and signed FPCA form must be submitted to the Elections Department by mail, common contract carrier, by fax, or as a scanned email attachment. If an FPCA is faxed, the original must be mailed in to the Early Voting Clerk and received no later than 4 business days after the faxed FPCA was received. This rule does not apply to an emailed FPCA. The FPCA includes pre-paid postage within the United States, additional postage may be required when mailing from outside of the U.S. Voters who send the completed FPCA by mail may use this postage-paid envelope.
Please return your FPCA to:
Mailing Address: Tarrant County Elections
PO Box 961011
Fort Worth, Texas 76161-0011
Express/Courier Delivery: Tarrant County Elections
2700 Premier St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76111-3011
Fax: 817-850-2344
Phone Number: 817-831-8683
TDD: 817-759-7801
Hours of Business: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Receiving your Ballot?
If your completed FPCA is timely received, your ballot will be sent to you by mail (or email if indicated on your completed FPCA). Texas law does not allow you to receive the blank ballot by fax.
Your voted ballot must be returned by mail or by common or contract carrier (certain exceptions apply – see “Faxing your ballot” below).
Military voters and their dependents who have requested their ballot using the FPCA form, domestic or overseas, have until the sixth business day following Election Day to return their ballot and have it counted. Overseas non-military U.S. citizens have until the fifth business day following Election Day to return their ballot and have it counted and the ballot envelope must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Official election ballot envelopes that bear postage-paid markings can also be returned via U.S. diplomatic pouch free of charge. You will need to submit your ballot in person to the closest U.S. embassy or consulate, but you may be required to schedule an appointment at the embassy or consulate in advance. Please check the State Department's website for specific instructions and hours of availability in your country.
Please return your voted ballot to:
Mailing Address: Tarrant County Elections
PO Box 961011
Fort Worth, Texas 76161-0011
Express/Courier Delivery: Tarrant County Elections
2700 Premier St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76111-3011
Faxing your Voted Ballot?
In certain circumstances, some military voters and their family members are eligible to return their voted ballots by fax. Texas law provides for the electronic transmission of a mail ballot by a military voter and his or her spouse and dependents IF the ballot is cast from an area in which the voter is eligible to receive hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay or a location that has been designated by the President of the United States as a combat zone. Please note that an electronically transmitted ballot submitted under these circumstances supersedes any other ballot submitted to Tarrant County.
If you are eligible to take advantage of this procedure, it is recommended that you fax your ballot through the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s clearinghouse using the fax cover sheet at the link below.
Federal Write-In Ballot (FWAB)?
A write-in ballot is available under very specific circumstances for members of the Uniformed Services and their family members; and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. The Federal write-in ballot (FWAB) may be used in any general, special, primary or runoff election for Federal office ONLY if ALL of the following circumstances apply:
- You must be voting from outside the United States OR a Uniformed Services voter, spouse or dependent,
- You must have applied for a regular ballot using the FPCA form so that the request is received by Tarrant County at least eleven days before the election AND
- You have not yet received the regular ballot.
In summary, the FWAB is valid only when a regular ballot has already been requested in a timely manner, and it has not yet been received.
An interactive FWAB is available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program website:
The FWAB form in PDF format that you can download, print and complete by-hand is also available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website:
Tracking your Voted 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.
Cancel a previously submitted FPCA?
Voters who have previously submitted a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) but have returned to Tarrant County and no longer wish to receive ballots mailed to their military or overseas address should complete the FPCA Cancellation Form.
Still have Questions?
Please contact our Early Voting Division at 817-831-6161 or contact us by email at votebymail@tarrantcountytx.gov