WASHINGTON — Helping military service members around the world participate in the U.S. electoral process by voting this election season is a priority for the U.S. Postal Service.

To ensure absentee ballots are delivered in time, the Postal Service recommends that ballots be mailed no later than the mailing dates given in the table below. The table shows locations requiring 14 mailing days or more. A complete list of countries and mailing dates can be found at usps.com/election-mail/2016-americans-overseas-ballot-mailing-deadlines.pdf.

2016 Election Season Recommended Absentee Ballot Mailing Dates by APO/FPO

The Postal Service works closely with the Federal Voting Assistance Program, Military Postal Service, Council of State Governments and Local Election Officials to enable end to end tracking of military ballots for active servicemen, serving overseas at APO/FPO addresses.

Military personnel with APO/FPO addresses can now return absentee ballots via Priority Mail Express using Label 11-DOD. “Waiver of Signature” and “Guaranteed by End of Day” endorsements are printed on the label, so ballots sent with Priority Mail Express are delivered on the day they arrive at the destination Post Office.

1. The Military Postal Service distributes the labels overseas. Postage is paid through a congressional appropriation.
2. The Priority Mail Express ballot label is only for absentee ballots mailed from Military Post Offices overseas by military members and their qualified dependents.
3. The label may be used on any size ballot envelope. Always place the label in the upper-right corner.
4. Voters can keep part of the tracking label and use the tracking number to track their ballots.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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