Pentagon Alters Overseas Voter Forms Ahead of Midterm Elections

In late August, the Pentagon submitted emergency requests that altered two key FVAP documents—the Federal Post Card Application and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. The long-standing checkbox allowing an overseas U.S. or uncertainty about returning. The revisions were made weeks before the deadline for states to issue midterm ballots, bypassing the usual months-long review process.

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The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has administered these forms for eligible overseas citizens, military members, and their families since 2013, when the “never-resided” category was first added at the suggestion of state officials and voting advocates. Since 2024, Republican officials have pursued lawsuits to block never-resided voters, arguing that state laws permitting their participation violate state constitutions and disadvantage GOP candidates. Successful challenges have occurred in North Carolina, with similar suits pending in Michigan, Arizona, and at least five other states.

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Voting-rights advocates argue the timing and lack of outreach will increase, not reduce, confusion. Bob Carey, a retired Navy captain who led FVAP until 2012, said the removal of the checkbox was a “very insulting” move that ignored input from military families. Sarah Stroyder of the Secure Families Initiative warned that the Pentagon’s process lacked transparency and stakeholder involvement. Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president and CEO of the U.S.

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• “I actually worked that regulation to change the form. But I didn't want to do it right in the middle of the 2012 election, so I had it effective come 2013,” — Bob Carey

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• “It has recently come to our attention that the current format of these forms may confuse voters about the information they are required to provide under Federal law and their eligibility to use these forms to register and vote,” — Sean O'Keefe, the Pentagon's deputy under secretary for personnel and readiness

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• “If I was the under secretary of defense for personnel readiness, to which FVAP reports, or the secretary of defense, I'd be calling up the [FVAP] director and saying, 'Spam the crap out of everyone,'” — Bob Carey

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• “I definitely believe that the new version of the form will create far more confusion than we ever encountered with any previous version,” — Sponsor Message Dzieduszycka-Suinat, president and CEO of the U

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