Witness or Notary Requirement on Ballot Return Envelope

The following states/territories require an affidavit, notary or witness on the ballot return envelope for both the state issued ballot and the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB):

Alabama: An affidavit must be sworn to before a commissioned officer, notary or other person authorized to administer oaths, or two witnesses(18 years or older).

Alaska: If mailed, the signature on the voter's certificate on the envelope must be witnessed, and signed and dated by the witness. If returned by fax, the voter must sign a statement waiving his right to a secret ballot and an oath as to his identity. The oath must be witnessed, and signed and dated by the witness. A commissioned or non-commissioned officer, or other person qualified to administer oaths, can serve as a witness when mailing or faxing. When an authorized official is not available, two U.S. citizens 18 years or older may witness.

Guam: An oath must be sworn to before a commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, or any other officer authorized to administer oaths.

Louisiana: Sign the ballot return envelope certificate in the presence of two witnesses. These witnesses must also sign the envelope.

Maine: If the voter receives assistance in reading and/or marking the ballot, the voter must have the ballot return envelope signed by the aide and witnessed by one other individual.

Minnesota: If you do not provide a military identification card number or passport number, the certificate on the ballot return envelope must be sworn to before a notary, another individual authorized to administer oaths, or a commissioned or noncommissioned officer (not below the rank of sergeant or its equivalent) of the military.

Mississippi: The affidavit on the absentee ballot return envelope must be sworn to before a commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer, petty officer or other person authorized to administer oaths.

New York: Mailing envelopes containing voted ballots may be witnessed, to help ensure that they can be counted, in cases where they lack required postmarks or other date/time markings or indicia.

North Carolina: The certificate on the ballot return envelope must be witnessed by two persons 18 years of age or older. Witnesses must provide their signatures and addresses.

Puerto Rico: An oath must be sworn to. The person who administers the oath is verifying your identity and your status (for example, military spouse, merchant marine member, student, agricultural worker, etc.). Military members, their spouses and their dependents must obtain the signature of a commissioned officer. Merchant marine members must obtain the signature of the highest officer on board. Students must obtain the signature of an official in the school registrar's office. Dependents, agricultural workers, and airline crewmembers must swear an oath before a notary public or person authorized by law to administer the oath. Overseas electors must obtain the signature of a consular officer.

South Carolina: The oath on the ballot return envelope must be witnessed.

Tennessee: If the applicant required assistance, one person must witness the assistance given in completing the ballot.

Utah: For Uniformed Services members (including spouse and dependants), if it is not possible to obtain the military postmark on or before election day a noncommissioned officer or commissioned officer may certify that the ballot was voted on or before election day by writing the following on the exterior of the ballot: "I certify that this ballot was voted on or before election day" sign and date; and clearly print their name and service number below the signature.

Utah does not require witness or notary for overseas citizens.

Virginia: The oath on the envelope must be witnessed.

Wisconsin: The certificate on the ballot return envelope must be witnessed by one (1) adult U.S. citizen. List your date of birth.

Note: As of August 2004, Florida no longer requires a witness on their ballot return envelope. Voters will still have to sign the oath on the ballot return envelope, but no longer need to have it witnessed.

Also note that some states require you to sign and date an oath self-validating the ballot. Refer to the State By State Instructions and to recent news releases at www.fvap.gov, and the October Issue of the Voting Information News for absentee ballot return deadlines, states that accept electronic transmission, have extended deadline for receipt of the voted absentee ballot, and postmark requirements.

Citizens located outside the United States (including APO/FPO addresses) who have applied for a regular ballot early enough so that the request is received by the appropriate local election official at least 30 days before the election, and have not received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state should vote the FWAB. FWABs may be obtained from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a Unit Voting Assistance Officer, an overseas citizen organization such as the Democrats Abroad or Republicans International Abroad, or use the official on-line version of the FWAB that is available at www.fvap.gov/pubs/onlinefwab.html.

The FVAP can be contacted through the DoD Voting Information Center (VIC). Citizens may reach the VIC toll-free using the toll-free numbers listed on the FVAP website, http://www.fvap.gov/services/tollfree.html. In the U.S. or Canada call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or local (703) 588-1343 or use DSN (military) 425-1343.

Questions regarding the above may also be referred to the Director, Federal Voting Assistance Program, Department of Defense, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1155. Additionally, the FVAP can be reached via e-mail at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.