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 complete the online voter registration application or complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (PDF).

Need help filling out your voter registration application? Watch the two minute video below that was created specifically to assist military and overseas citizens with voter registration.

Military and Overseas Voter Registration Information

When you complete the online voter registration application or the FPCA, you can choose to have 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 register as a military or overseas voter, 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 7 days after Election Day.

To make sure your voted ballot has enough time to arrive to your county elections official, we recommend you send it back by:

Your Location Primary Election
(March 5, 2024)
General Election
(November 5, 2024)
On a ship at sea January 30, 2024 October 1, 2024
Outside the U.S. February 4, 2024 October 6, 2024
Stateside February 23, 2024 October 25, 2024

For military voters and their family members only: USPS Priority Mail Express Label 11-DOD provides free express mail service for federal general election vote-by-mail ballots. You can request to have this applied to your ballot at Military Postal Office locations (APO/FPO); it is also available at Department of State embassies or consulates.  This label permits ballots to be treated as express mail upon return to the United States and be trackable through the U.S. Postal Service. For more information, contact FVAP.  

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 seventh day prior to Election Day, 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) Transmission Cover Sheet (PDF)". Please check with your county before using FVAP's Transmission Cover Sheet.

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) 470-7995
Email
Mail
Fax: (510) 470-7995
Alameda Registrar of Voters
1225 Fallon Street, Room G1
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 272-6973
Email
Website
Alpine Mail
Fax: (530) 694-2491
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 694-2491
Alpine County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 158
Markleeville, CA 96120-0158
Phone: (530) 694-2281
Email
Website
Amador Mail
Fax: (209) 223-6467
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 223-6467
Amador County Elections
810 Court Street
Jackson, CA 95642-2132
Phone: (209) 223-6465
Email
Website
Butte

 
Mail
Fax: (530) 538-6853
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 538-6853
Butte County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
155 Nelson Avenue
Oroville, CA 95965-3361
Phone: (530) 552-3400, option 1
Email
Website
Calaveras Mail
Fax: (209) 754-6733
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 754-6733
Calaveras County Clerk, Elections Department
891 Mountain Ranch Road
San Andreas, CA 95249-9713
Phone: (209) 754-6376
Email
Website
Colusa
 
Mail
Fax: (530) 458-0512
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 458-0512
Colusa County Registrar of Voters
546 Jay Street, Ste. 200
Colusa, CA 95932-2400
Phone: (530) 458-0500
Email
Website
Contra Costa
 
Mail
Fax: (925) 335-7836
Email
Mail
Fax: (925) 335-7843
Contra Costa County Elections Division
P.O. Box 271
Martinez, CA 94553-0027
Phone: (925) 335-7800
Email
Website
Del Norte Mail
Fax: (707) 465-0321
Email
Mail
Fax: (707) 465-0321
Del Norte County Elections
981 H Street Room 160
Crescent City, CA 95531-3457
Phone: (707) 465-0383
Email
Website
El Dorado
 
Mail
Fax: (530) 626-5514
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 626-5514
El Dorado County Elections
P.O Box 678001, Placerville, 95667 
Phone: (530) 621-7481
Email
Website
Fresno
 
Mail
Fax: (559) 488-3279
Email
Mail
Fax: (559) 488-3279
Fresno County Clerk-Elections
2221 Kern Street
Fresno, CA 93721-2613
Phone: (559) 600-8683
Email
Website
Glenn Mail
Fax: (530) 934-6571
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 934-6571
Glenn County Clerk-Elections
516 W. Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor
Willows, CA 95988-2740
Phone: (888) 677-9461
Email
Website
Humboldt Mail
Fax: (707) 445-7204
Email
Mail
Fax: (707) 445-7204
Humboldt County Office of Elections
2426 6th Street
Eureka, CA 95501-4409
Phone: (707) 445-7481
Email
Website
Imperial Mail
Fax: (442) 265-1062
Email
Mail
Fax: (442) 265-1062
Imperial County Registrar of Voters
940 W Main Street, Ste. 206
El Centro, CA 92243-2839
Phone: (442) 265-1060
Email
Website
Inyo Mail
Fax: (760) 878-1805
Email
Mail
Fax: (760) 878-1805
Inyo County Elections
168 N. Edwards, PO Drawer F
Independence, CA 93526-0606
Phone: (760) 878-0224
Email
Website
Kern

Mail
Fax: (661) 868-3723

or

(661) 868-3768​​
Email

Mail

Fax: (661) 868-3723

or

(661) 868-3768​​

Kern County Clerk - Elections Office
1115 Truxtun Avenue, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4639
Phone: (661) 868-3590
Email
Website
Kings Mail
Fax: (559) 585-8453
Email
Mail
Fax: (559) 585-8453
County of Kings Elections
1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Bldg #7,
Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: (559) 852-4882
Email
Website
Lake Mail
Fax: (707) 263-2742
Email
Mail
Fax: (707) 263-2742
 
Registrar of Voters
325 N Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453-4747
Phone: (707) 263-2372
Email
Website
Lassen Mail
Fax: (530) 257-3480
Email
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
Email
Website
Los Angeles

Mail
Fax :(562) 232-7924
or

(877) 614-1127
Email

Mail

Fax :(562) 232-7925
or

(877) 614-1128

Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

Mailing Address:
PO Box 30960
Los Angeles CA 90030-0960
12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650-8357
Phone: (800) 815-2666, option 2
Email
Website

Madera Mail
Fax: (559) 675-7870
Email
Mail
Fax: (559) 675-7870
Madera County Elections Division
200 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637-3548
Phone: (800) 435-0509
Email
Website
Marin

Mail
Fax: (415) 473-4244

or

(415) 473-6447
Email

Mail

Fax: (415) 473-4244

or

(415) 473-6447

County of Marin Elections
P O Box E, San Rafael, CA 94913-3904
Phone: (415) 473-6441
Email
Website
Mariposa Mail
Fax: (209) 966-6496
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 966-6496
Mariposa County Elections Department
P.O. Box 247
Mariposa, CA 95338-0247
Phone: (209) 966-2007
Email
Website
Mendocino Mail
Fax: (707) 463-4257
Email
Mail
Fax: (707) 463-4257
Mendocino County Clerk-Elections
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020
Ukiah, CA 95482-3738
Phone: (707) 234-6819
Email
Website
Merced Mail
Fax: (209) 385-7387
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 385-7387
Merced County Registrar of Voters - Elections
2222 M Street
Merced, CA 95348
Phone: (800) 561-0619
Email
Website
Modoc Mail
Fax: (530) 233-6666
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 233-6666
Modoc County Clerk-Elections
108 E Modoc Street
Alturas, CA 96101-4020
Phone: (530) 233-6200
Email
Website
Mono Mail
Fax: (760) 932-5531
Email
Mail
Fax: (760) 932-5531

Mono County Clerk-Elections
PO Box 237, Bridgeport, CA 93517
Phone: (760) 932-5537
Email

or

Email
Website

Monterey Mail
Fax: (831) 755-5485
Email
Mail
Fax: (831) 755-5485
Monterey County Elections
PO BOX 4400, Salinas, CA 93912
Phone: (831) 796-1499
Email
Website
Napa

Mail
Fax: (707) 299-4100
Email

 

Mail
Fax: (707) 253-4390

Additional Fax: (707) 299-4100

Napa County Elections Division
1127 First St. Ste. E
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1470
Email
Website

Nevada Mail
Fax: (530) 265-9829
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 265-9829
Nevada County Clerk - Elections
950 Maidu Avenue Suite 210, Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 265-1298
Email
Website
Orange

Mail
Fax: (714) 567-5100

or

(714) 567-7644
Email

Mail

Fax: (714) 567-5100

or

(714) 567-7644

Orange County Registrar of Voters
P.O. Box 11298, Santa Ana, CA  92711 
Phone: (714) 567-7560
Email
Website
Placer
 

Mail
Fax: (530) 886-5691
Email

Mail
Fax: (530) 886-5691
Placer County Registrar of Voters
3715 Atherton Road Suite #2
Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: (530) 886-5650
Email
Website
Plumas Mail
Fax: (530) 283-6155
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 283-6155
Plumas County Clerk - Elections
520 Main Street, Room 102
Quincy, CA 95971-9366
Phone: (530) 283-6256
Email
Website
Riverside
 

Mail
Fax: (951) 486-7272

or

(951) 486-7335
Email

Mail

Fax: (951) 486-7272

or

(951) 486-7335

Riverside Registrar of Voters
2724 Gateway Drive
Riverside, CA 92507-0918
Phone: (951) 486-7200

or

(800) 773-8683
Email
Website

Sacramento

Mail
Fax: (916) 854-9796

or

(916) 854-8856
Email

Mail
Fax: (916) 854-9796
County of Sacramento
Voter Registration and Elections
7000 65th St, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823 
Phone: (916) 875-6155
Email
Website
San Benito Mail
Fax: (831) 636-2939
Email
Mail
Fax: (831) 636-2939

San Benito County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

1601 Lana Way
Hollister, CA 95023
Mailing Address:
PO Box 1150
Hollister, CA 95024
Phone: (831) 636-4016
Email
Website

San Bernardino
 
Mail
Fax: (909) 386-8388 or
(909) 387-2022
Email
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
Email
Website
San Diego Mail
Fax: (858) 505-7294
Email
Mail
Fax: (858) 467-9670
San Diego Registrar of Voters
Address to submit FPCA: P.O. Box 85520, San Diego, CA 92186-5520; Address to submit ballot: P.O. Box 85902, San Diego CA  92186-5902
Phone: (858) 565-5800
Email
Website
San Francisco

 
Mail
Fax: (415) 554-4372
Email
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
Email
Website
San Joaquin
 
Mail
Fax: (209) 468-9534
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 468-9534
San Joaquin Registrar of Voters
P.O Box 810, Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 468-2890
Email
Website
San Luis Obispo Mail
Fax: (805) 781-1111
Email
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
Email
Website
San Mateo Mail
Fax: (650) 312-5348
Email
Mail
Fax: (650) 312-5348
San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division
40 Tower Road
San Mateo, CA 94402-4098
Phone: (650) 312-5222
Email
Website
Santa Barbara
 

Mail
Fax: (805) 568-2209

or

(805) 681-4003
Email

Mail

Fax: (805) 568-2209

or

(805) 681-4003

Santa Barbara County Clerk-Elections
P.O. Box 61510
Santa Barbara, CA 93160-1510
Phone: (833) 421-0251
Email
Website
Santa Clara Mail
Fax: (408) 293-6002
Email
Mail
Fax: (408) 293-6002
Santa Clara Registrar of Voters
1555 Berger Drive, Building 2
San Jose, CA 95112-2716
Phone: (408) 282-0210
Email
Website
Santa Cruz
 
Mail
Fax: (831) 454-2445
Email
Mail
Fax: (831) 454-2445
Santa Cruz County Clerk - Elections
701 Ocean Street, Room 310
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4076
Phone: (831) 454-2060
Email
Website
Shasta
 
Mail
Fax: (530) 225-5454
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 225-5454
Shasta County Clerk-Elections
1643 Market Street
Redding, CA 96001-1022
Phone: (530) 225-5730
Email
Website
Sierra Mail
Fax: (530) 289-2830
Email
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
Email
Website
Siskiyou Mail
Fax: (530) 841-4110
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 841-4110
Siskiyou County Clerk-Elections
311 Fourth Street, Room 201, Yreka, CA 96097
Phone: (530) 842-8084
Email
Website
Solano Mail
Fax: (707) 784-1424
Email
Mail
Fax: (707) 784-1424
Solano Registrar of Voters
675 Texas Street, Suite 2600
Fairfield, CA 94533-6338
Phone: (707) 784-6675
Text "Solano" to 2VOTE (28683)
Email
Website
Sonoma

County Voter Information Guide

Mail
Fax: (707) 565-6862

or

(707) 565-6843
Email

Mail

Fax: (707) 565-6862

or

(707) 565-6843

Sonoma County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
PO Box 11485, Santa Rosa, CA 95406-1485
Phone: (707) 656-6803
Email
Website
Stanislaus

County Voter Information Guide

Mail
Fax: (209) 525-5803

or

(209) 525-5802
Email

Mail

Fax: (209) 525-5803

or

(209) 525-5802

Stanislaus County Clerk, Registrar of Voters
1021 I Street, Suite 101
Modesto, CA 95354-2331
Phone: (209) 525-5201
Email
Website
Sutter Mail
Fax: (530) 822-7587
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 822-7587
Sutter County Clerk-Elections
1435 Veterans Memorial Circle
Yuba City, CA 95993-3011
Phone: (209) 525-5235
Email
Website
Tehama Mail
Fax: (530) 527-1140
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 527-1140
Tehama County Clerk-Elections
P.O. Box 250
Red Bluff, CA 96080-0250
Phone: (530) 527-8190
Email
Website
Trinity Mail
Fax: (530) 623-8398
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 623-8398
Trinity County Clerk - Elections
P.O. Box 1215
11 Court Street
Weaverville, CA 96093-1258
Phone: (530) 623-1220
Email
Website
Tulare Mail
Fax: (559) 737-4498
Email
Mail
Fax: (559) 737-4498
Tulare County Registrar of Voters
5300 West Tulare Avenue, Suite 105
Visalia, CA 93277
Phone: (559) 839-2100
Email
Website
Tuolumne Mail
Fax: (209) 694-8931
Email
Mail
Fax: (209) 694-8931
Tuolumne County Clerk - Elections
2 South Green Street
Sonora, CA 95370-4696
Phone: (209) 533-5570
Email
Website
Ventura

County Voter Information Guide
Mail
Fax: (805) 648-9200
Additional Fax: (805) 654-3989
Email

Mail
Fax: (805) 648-9200

Additional Fax: (805) 654-3989

Ventura County Clerk-Elections
800 S. Victoria Avenue, L-1200
Ventura, CA 93009-1200
Phone: (805) 654-2664
Email
Website
Yolo
 
Mail
Fax: (530) 666-8123
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 666-8123
Yolo County Clerk-Registration
625 Court Street, Room B05
Woodland, CA 95695-3475
Phone: (530) 666-8133
Email
Website
Yuba Mail
Fax: (530) 749-7854
Email
Mail
Fax: (530) 749-7854
Yuba County Clerk
915 8th Street, Suite 107
Marysville, CA 95901-5273
Phone: (530) 749-7855
Email
Website