Tips for California's Military and Overseas Voters (PDF)
Thank you for taking part in elections while you are in the military or other uniformed service, or a civilian living outside the United States.
The information and resources on this page are intended to make participating in elections as easy and rewarding for you as possible. Here, you will learn the basic steps to become a military or overseas voter so you are eligible to vote when you are absent from your county while serving and/or living overseas and discover how state and federal laws work to protect your precious right to vote.
As a military or overseas voter who is registered to vote, there are several different ways you can request and receive your ballot and return your voted ballot and signed Military and Overseas Voter Return Envelope.
Register to Vote and/or Request a Ballot
Even if you are or were registered to vote in your county, in order to receive your election materials and vote when you are absent from your county while serving and/or living overseas, you need to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the online voter registration application or by completing the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (PDF).
When you complete your online voter registration application or your FPCA, you can choose to receive your ballot and the accompanying Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope mailed, faxed, or emailed to you. You may even be able to download them from your county elections official's website. Check the list below for the options in your county.
The FPCA, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, is available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Members of the military can also obtain an FPCA from their installation's Voting Assistance Officer. Civilian overseas voters can obtain an FPCA at any U.S. embassy or consulate. You can mail or fax your completed FPCA to your county elections official. If you mail the FPCA, postage is pre-paid in the U.S. mail, including the Military Postal System and State Department Pouch mail. If you are already registered to vote and are only submitting an FPCA to request a vote-by-mail ballot, you can email your completed and signed FPCA to your county elections official.
Return Your Voted Ballot and Signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope
Return your voted ballot and signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope to your county elections official. Mail or fax (under certain circumstances) your voted ballot and signed return envelope following the Secretary of State's online instructions under "Mailing Addresses and Fax Numbers for Military or Overseas Voters".
If mailing: Your voted ballot and signed return envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 17 days after Election Day.
If faxing: If you are living outside the territorial limits of the United States or are called for military service within the United States on or after the final date to make application for a vote-by-mail ballot, you may return your ballot by fax, but it must be received by your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you decide to fax your voted ballot and signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope, you must also fax an "Oath of Voter" form to waive your right to a confidential vote. This oath is in addition to the voter's declaration that is on the Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope. Please use the oath form your county provides to you; however, many counties also accept the "Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Alternative Form (PDF)". Please check with your county before using FVAP's Alternative Form.
Under California law, while you may receive a blank ballot by email, you may not return a voted ballot by email.
For additional information and resources, see the links on the left side of this page.
| County | Method to submit your FPCA or receive your ballot | Method to return your voted ballot and signed Military or Overseas Voter Return Envelope | County Contact Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (510) 272-6982 |
Mail Fax: (510) 272-6982 |
Alameda Registrar of Voters 1225 Fallon Street, Room G1 Oakland, CA 94612-4229 Phone: (510) 272-6973 Website |
| Alpine | Mail Fax: (530) 694-2491 |
Mail Fax: (530) 694-2491 |
Alpine County Clerk, Registrar of Voters P.O. Box 158 Markleeville, CA 96120-0158 Phone: (530) 694-2281 Website |
| Amador | Mail Fax: (209) 223-6467 |
Mail Fax: (209) 223-6467 |
Amador Registrar of Voters 810 Court Street Jackson, CA 95642-2132 Phone: (209) 223-6465 Website |
| Butte |
Mail Fax: (530) 538-6853 |
Mail Fax: (530) 538-6853 |
Butte County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 155 Nelson Avenue Oroville, CA 95965-3361 Phone: (530) 552-3400 Website |
| Calaveras | Mail Fax: (209) 754-6733 |
Mail Fax: (209) 754-6733 |
Calaveras County Clerk, Elections Department 891 Mountain Ranch Road San Andreas, CA 95249-9713 Phone: (209) 754-6376 Website |
| Colusa County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (530) 458-0512 |
Mail Fax: (530) 458-0512 |
Colusa County Clerk-Elections Department 546 Jay Street, Ste. 200 Colusa, CA 95932-2400 Phone: (530) 458-0500 Website |
| Contra Costa |
Mail Fax: (925) 335-7838 |
Mail Fax: (925) 335-7843 |
Contra Costa County Clerk - Elections Department P.O. Box 271 Martinez, CA 94553-0027 Phone: (925) 335-7800 Website |
| Del Norte | Mail Fax: (707) 465-0321 |
Mail Fax: (707) 465-0321 |
Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder-Elections 981 H Street Room 160 Crescent City, CA 95531-3457 Phone: (707) 464-7216 Website |
| El Dorado |
Mail Fax: (530) 626-5514 |
Mail Fax: (530) 626-5514 |
El Dorado Registrar of Voters 2850 Fairlane Court Placerville, CA 95667-4100 Phone: (530) 621-7480 Website |
| Fresno Live Ballot |
Mail Fax: (559) 488-3279 |
Mail Fax: (559) 488-3279 |
Fresno County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 2221 Kern Street Fresno, CA 93721-2613 Phone: (559) 600-3045 Website |
| Glenn | Mail Fax: (530) 934-6571 |
Mail Fax: (530) 934-6571 |
Glenn County Clerk-Elections 516 W. Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor Willows, CA 95988-2740 Phone: (530) 934-6414 Website |
| Humboldt |
Mail Fax: (707) 445-7204 |
Mail Fax: (707) 445-7204 |
Humboldt County Clerk-Elections 2426 6th Street Eureka, CA 95501-4409 Phone: (707) 445-7678 Website |
| Imperial |
Mail Fax: (442) 265-1062 |
Mail Fax: (442) 265-1062 |
Imperial County Elections 940 W Main Street, Ste. 206 El Centro, CA 92243-2839 Phone: (442) 265-1060 Website |
| Inyo | Mail Fax: (760) 878-1805 |
Mail Fax: (760) 878-1805 |
Inyo County Clerk-Elections 168 N. Edwards, PO Drawer F Independence, CA 93526-0606 Phone: (760) 878-0224 Website |
| Kern | Mail Fax: (661) 868-3768 |
Mail Fax: (661) 868-3723 |
Kern County Clerk - Elections Office 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 1st Floor Bakersfield, CA 93301-4639 Phone: (661) 868-3590 Website |
| Kings | Mail Fax: (559) 585-8453 |
Mail Fax: (559) 585-8453 |
Kings County Elections Dept., Govt. Center 1400 W. Lacey Boulevard Hanford, CA 93230-5997 Phone: (559) 852-4401 Website |
| Lake | Mail Fax: (707) 263-2742 |
Mail Fax: (707) 263-2742 |
Lake County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 255 N. Forbes Street Lakeport, CA 95453-4747 Phone: (707) 263-2372 Website |
| Lassen | Mail Fax: (530) 257-3480 |
Mail Fax: (530) 257-3480 |
Lassen County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 220 S. Lassen Street, Ste. 5 Susanville, CA 96130-4343 Phone: (530) 251-8217 Website |
| Los Angeles County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax :(562) 864-6786 |
Mail Fax :(562) 864-6786 |
Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk 12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650-8357 Phone: (800) 815-2666 Website |
| Madera |
Mail Fax: (559) 675-7870 |
Mail Fax: (559) 675-7870 |
Madera County Clerk-Elections 200 W. 4th Street Madera, CA 93637-3548 Phone: (559) 675-7720 Website |
| Marin | Mail Fax: (415) 473-4244 |
Mail Fax: (415) 473-4244 |
Marin County Registrar of Voters 3501 Civic Center, Room 121 San Rafael, CA 94903-4183 Phone: (415) 473-6441 Website |
| Mariposa | Mail Fax: (209) 966-6496 |
Mail Fax: (209) 966-6496 |
Mariposa County Clerk, Registrar of Voters P.O. Box 247 Mariposa, CA 95338-0247 Phone: (209) 966-2007 Website |
| Mendocino | Mail Fax: (707) 463-6597 |
Mail Fax: (707) 463-6597 |
Mendocino County Clerk-Elections 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020 Ukiah, CA 95482-3738 Phone: (707) 234-6819 Website |
| Merced | Mail Fax: (209) 385-7387 |
Mail Fax: (209) 385-7387 |
Merced County Registrar of Voters - Elections 2222 M Street, Room 14 Merced, CA 95340-3729 Phone: (209) 385-7541 Website |
| Modoc | Mail Fax: (530) 233-6666 |
Mail Fax: (530) 233-6666 |
Modoc County Clerk-Elections 108 E Modoc Street Alturas, CA 96101-4020 Phone: (530) 233-6205 Website |
| Mono | Mail Fax: (760) 932-5531 |
Mail Fax: (760) 932-5531 |
Mono County Clerk-Elections PO Box 237, Bridgeport, CA 93517 Phone: (760) 932-5537 Website |
| Monterey | Mail Fax: (831) 755-5485 |
Mail Fax: (831) 755-5485 |
Monterey County Elections 1441 Schilling Place - North Building Salinas, CA 93901-2109 Phone: (831) 796-1499 Website |
| Napa | Mail Fax: (707) 253-4390 |
Mail Fax: (707) 253-4390 |
Napa County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 1127 First St. Ste. E Napa, CA 94559 Phone: (707) 299-1470 Website |
| Nevada | Mail Fax: (530) 265-9829 |
Mail Fax: (530) 265-9829 |
Nevada County Clerk - Elections 950 Maidu Avenue Nevada City, CA 95959-8600 Phone: (530) 265-1298 Website |
| Orange |
Mail Fax: (714) 567-5100 |
Mail Fax: (714) 567-5100 |
Orange County Registrar of Voters 1300 S. Grand Ave Bldg. C Santa Ana, CA 92705-4434 Phone: (714) 567-7560 Website |
| Placer County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (530) 886-5691 |
Mail Fax: (530) 886-5691 |
Placer County Registrar of Voters 2956 Richardson Dr. Auburn, CA 95603-2640 Phone: (530) 886-5650 Website |
| Plumas County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (530) 283-6155 |
Mail Fax: (530) 283-6155 |
Plumas County Clerk - Elections 520 Main Street, Room 102 Quincy, CA 95971-9366 Phone: (530) 283-6256 Website |
| Riverside County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (951) 486-7272 |
Mail Fax: (951) 486-7272 |
Riverside Registrar of Voters 2724 Gateway Drive Riverside, CA 92507-0918 Phone: (951) 486-7200 Website |
| Sacramento | Mail Fax: (916) 854-9796 |
Mail Fax: (916) 854-9796 |
County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections 7000 65th Street Sacramento, CA 95823-2315 Phone: (916) 875-6451 Website |
| San Benito | Mail Fax: (831) 636-2939 |
Mail Fax: (831) 636-2939 |
San Benito County Clerk, Court House 440 Fifth Street, Room 206 Hollister, CA 95023-3843 Phone: (831) 636-4016 Website |
| San Bernardino Live Ballot |
Mail Fax: (909) 386-8388 or (909) 387-2022 |
Mail Fax: (909) 386-8388 or (909) 387-2022 |
San Bernardino Registrar of Voters 777 E. Rialto Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92415 Phone: (909) 387-8300 Website |
| San Diego | Mail Fax: (858) 467-9670 |
Mail Fax: (858) 505-7294 |
San Diego Registrar of Voters 5600 Overland Avenue, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92123-1278 Phone: (858) 505-7325 Website |
| San Francisco County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (415) 554-4372 |
Mail Fax: (415) 554-4372 |
San Francisco Elections, City Hall 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Room 48 San Francisco, CA 94102-4608 Phone: (415) 554-4375 Website |
| San Joaquin |
Mail Fax: (209) 468-9534 |
Mail Fax: (209) 468-9534 |
San Joaquin Registrar of Voters 44 N San Joaquin Street, Suite 350 Stockton, CA 95202-2924 Phone: (209) 468-2890 Website |
| San Luis Obispo |
Mail Fax: (805) 781-1111 |
Mail Fax: (805) 781-1111 |
San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Elections 1055 Monterey Street, Room D120 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408-1003 Phone: (805) 781-5228 Website |
| San Mateo | Mail Fax: (650) 312-5348 |
Mail Fax: (650) 312-5348 |
San Mateo County Clerk - Elections 40 Tower Road San Mateo, CA 94402-4098 Phone: (650) 312-5222 Website |
| Santa Barbara County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (805) 568-2209 |
Mail Fax: (805) 568-2209 |
Santa Barbara County Clerk-Elections P.O. Box 61510 Santa Barbara, CA 93160-1510 Phone: (805) 568-2200 Fax: (800) 722-8683 Website |
| Santa Clara County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (408) 293-6002 |
Mail Fax: (408) 293-6002 |
Santa Clara Registrar of Voters 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2 San Jose, CA 95112-2716 Phone: (408) 299-8640 Website |
| Santa Cruz County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (831) 454-2445 |
Mail Fax: (831) 454-2445 |
Santa Cruz County Clerk - Elections 701 Ocean Street, Room 210 Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4076 Phone: (831) 454-2405 Website |
| Shasta County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (530) 225-5454 |
Mail Fax: (530) 225-5454 |
Shasta County Clerk-Elections 1643 Market Street Redding, CA 96001-1022 Phone: (530) 225-5730 Website |
| Sierra |
Mail Fax: (530) 289-2830 |
Mail Fax: (530) 289-2830 |
Sierra County Clerk-Elections 100 Courthouse Square, Room 11 P.O. Drawer D Downieville, CA 95936-0398 Phone: (530) 289-3295 Website |
| Siskiyou | Mail Fax: (530) 841-4110 |
Mail Fax: (530) 841-4110 |
Siskiyou County Clerk-Elections 510 N. Main St. Yreka, CA 96097-9910 Phone: (530) 842-8084 Website |
| Solano |
Mail Fax: (707) 784-6678 |
Mail Fax: (707) 784-6678 |
Solano Registrar of Voters 675 Texas Street, Suite 2600 Fairfield, CA 94533-6338 Phone: (707) 784-6675 Text "Solano" to 2VOTE (28683) Website |
| Sonoma County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (707) 565-6862 |
Mail Fax: (707) 565-6843 |
Sonoma County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 435 Fiscal Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2820 Phone: (707) 565-6800 Website |
| Stanislaus County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (209) 525-5803 |
Mail Fax: (209) 525-5803 |
Stanislaus County Clerk, Registrar of Voters 1021 I Street, Suite 101 Modesto, CA 95354-2331 Phone: (209) 525-5201 Website |
| Sutter | Mail Fax: (530) 822-7587 |
Mail Fax: (530) 822-7587 |
Sutter County Clerk-Elections 1435 Veterans Memorial Circle Yuba City, CA 95993-3011 Phone: (530) 822-7122 Website |
| Tehama |
Mail Fax: (530) 527-1140 |
Mail Fax: (530) 527-1140 |
Tehama County Clerk-Elections P.O. Box 250 Red Bluff, CA 96080-0250 Phone: (530) 527-8190 Website |
| Trinity | Mail Fax: (530) 623-8398 |
Mail Fax: (530) 623-8398 |
Trinity County Clerk - Elections P.O. Box 1215 11 Court Street Weaverville, CA 96093-1258 Phone: (530) 623-1220 Website |
| Tulare | Mail Fax: (559) 737-4498 |
Mail Fax: (559) 737-4498 |
Tulare County Registrar of Voters 5951 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93277-9394 Phone: (559) 624-7303 Website |
| Tuolumne | Mail Fax: (209) 694-8931 |
Mail Fax: (209) 694-8931 |
Tuolumne County Clerk - Elections 2 South Green Street Sonora, CA 95370-4696 Phone: (209) 533-5570 Website |
| Ventura County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (805) 648-9200 |
Mail Fax: (805) 648-9200 |
Ventura County Clerk-Elections 800 S. Victoria Avenue, L-1200 Ventura, CA 93009-1200 Phone: (805) 654-2664 Website |
| Yolo County Voter Information Guide |
Mail Fax: (530) 666-8123 |
Mail Fax: (530) 666-8123 |
Yolo County Clerk-Registration 625 Court Street, Room B05 Woodland, CA 95695-3475 Phone: (530) 666-8122 Website |
| Yuba |
Mail Fax: (530) 749-7854 |
Mail Fax: (530) 749-7854 |
Yuba County Clerk 915 8th Street, Suite 107 Marysville, CA 95901-5273 Phone: (530) 749-7855 Website |
