Overseas and Military Voters

Suburban Cook County voters who live overseas or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces may register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot by completing a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). The FPCA is current for a calendar year and ensures that the voter will automatically be sent an absentee ballot for each election held in that year. Ballots and election materials are sent by mail, email or fax, whichever method the voter indicates on the application.

The following categories of voters are eligible to use the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA):

U.S. citizens who no longer maintain a residence in suburban Cook County but lived there immediately prior to relocating abroad*
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and dependents stationed in the U.S. or abroad and whose last civilian address was in suburban Cook County*
U.S. citizens whose permanent residence is in suburban Cook County but will be temporarily residing abroad on Election Day*

*In all of these instances, you are eligible to vote absentee even if you are not currently registered. Your Federal Postcard Application will serve as a registration application as well.

If you are a member of one of these categories, the Clerk’s office will accept your signed FPCA by mail, email, or fax. If you submit it by email or fax, you must still mail us a signed hard copy, but taking advantage of the email or fax option will expedite delivery of your ballot.

All voted ballots and certification documents must be returned to the Clerk’s office by mail, even if you received it by email or fax. Your voted ballot and required materials must be postmarked by the day before Election Day in order to be counted.

Online Application

Federal Postcard Application

NEW! Access your ballot online

Beginning with the March 20, 2012 Presidential Primary Election, we are providing military and overseas voters who have internet access with a secure website where you can log in, vote your ballot online, print your voted ballot, print the accompanying ballot materials, and then mail the ballot and all required materials to the Clerk’s office.

To access your ballot, go to mailballot.cookcountyclerk.com.

In order to be counted, ballots must be postmarked by March 19, 2012 and received at the Clerk’s office by April 3, 2012.

Primary Election

If the election is a primary election, you must indicate your party preference (Democratic, Green Party, Republican, or non-partisan) on your application. A non-partisan ballot does not have contests for party nominations. It only lists referenda/public questions, if any are applicable to your precinct. If you you wish to vote for candidates running to represent their party in the next general election, you must request a Democratic, Green Party, or Republican ballot.

To send applications:

By fax: (312) 603-9784
By email: AbsenteeVoting.Info@cookcountyil.gov
By mail:
Cook County Clerk's Office
C/O Absentee Department - UOCAVA Program
69 W. Washington St., Room 500
Chicago, IL 60602
USA