Special Procedures: APO/FPO/DPO and Overseas Citizens Absentee Ballots

September 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024

The United States Postal Service^® and the Military Postal Service Agency have again joined forces to expedite delivery of federal absentee ballots to overseas military personnel. We recognize the important role that mail plays in the election process and are committed to ensuring that everyone who chooses to vote by mail experiences a smooth, well-organized process — one that provides them with the highest level of trust and confidence.

Program Summary:

All military ballots mailed by election officials will be subject to special handling procedures. Election officials should mail absentee ballots at least 45 days prior to the November 5, 2024, general elections.
Local election offices are requested to segregate military absentee ballots into bundles for the Chicago and Miami International Service Centers (ISCs), which serve as the gateways for the military. At the ISCs, absentee ballots receive special handling.
Trays or containers of Ballot Mail destined for APO/FPO/DPO (Army and Air Force Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office) addresses and overseas citizens may be identified using Tag 191,
Domestic and International Ballots, and presented to the Post Office™. APO/FPO/DPO absentee ballots will be sent from local Post Office locations to the nearest Processing and Distribution Center for further processing.
Facing slips are used to presort loose ballots, based on bundle size, that are destined to pass through the two ISC military gateways. The facing slips are pictured on the right side of this fact sheet.

ELECTION OFFICIALS: Separate military absentee ballots by preparing bundles for the two ISC military gateways: Chicago and Miami.

Directions for Marking the Bundles:

ISC Name	ISC State Abbreviation	ISC ZIP Code™ Range
Chicago	AE	090–099
Chicago	AP	962–966
Miami	AA	340

If fewer than five (5) pieces will be in a separate bundle, a mixed bundle may be prepared. This bundle must have the facing slip marked, “APO/FPO/DPO MIXED – Absentee Ballots.”

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
APO/FPO/DPO and MIXED Facing Slips