Complete Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
Fill out the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation and Ballot
The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot allows voters who have requested their ballot by their state deadline but not received it to vote. You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your state requires.
Open Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)
What do I fill in?
Only the following blocks of the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation are required:
Block 1.a: Select the category that describes you.
Block 1.b: Puerto Rico does not allow you to use this form for registration. Do not check this box.
Block 2.a: Both your paternal and your maternal surnames are required. Otherwise, provide your full name as it appears on file at the State Elections Commission.
Block 2.e: Date of Birth
Blocks 2.f and 2.g: Enter your valid Puerto Rico Driver's License number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or your state voter registration number.
Block 3.a through 3.e: Complete street address of your Puerto Rico voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 6. This address must be different from the one provided in Block 4 and must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.
Block 4.a: Enter your current mailing address. It must be different from the address you provided in Block 3.
Block 6: Provide your father's and mother's first names. The certifying officer who signs Block 7 must state here - "I certify that [voter] is a [member of the U.S. Army, student at XX University, etc., whichever is applicable]." Provide any information that may assist the local election official in accepting this ballot or application.
Block 7: Applicant must sign and date in the presence of an oath taking official. The person who administers the oath is verifying your identity and your status (for example, military spouse, merchant marine member, 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.
Completing your ballot:
Puerto Rico allows you to use this form for voting in general elections for Federal office. For each office for which you vote, write in either a candidate's name or a political party designation.
Put Voter's Declaration/Affirmation and Voted Ballot into Envelopes
Once the ballot is complete, fold and place it in the security envelope and seal. Place only the voted ballot in the security envelope and do not write on the security envelope. Insert the sealed security envelope and the Voter's Declaration/Affirmation into the mailing envelope and seal.
Optional: You may print this template on your security envelope
Open Security Envelope Template
(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)
Optional: You may be able to use this postage-paid envelope template
Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template
(Opens in a new window and requires Adobe Reader 7)
The postage-paid envelope may be used in the U.S. postal system which includes: all U.S. Military Post Offices (APO/FPO) overseas or through the diplomatic pouch available at U.S. Embassies/Consulates
Submission Options
Mail the form to:
Absentee Voting Administrative Board
State Elections Commission
PO Box 195552
San Juan, PR 00919-5552
Don't know your county? Go to the county finder. Don't know your zip code? Go to the United States Postal Service website.
Follow-up
- Your voted ballot must be postmarked and received by 11/04/2008.
- If you receive your state absentee ballot after submitting your Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, fill it out and return it. The state absentee ballot will be counted instead of the back-up ballot if it's received in time.