The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986 protects the voting rights of members of the Uniformed Services (on active duty), members of the Merchant Marine and their eligible dependents, Commissioner Corps of the Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.
UOCAVA requires states and territories to allow these citizens to register and vote in elections for federal office using absentee procedures.
The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) amended UOCAVA and other statutes by providing greater protections for Service Members, their eligible family members and other overseas citizens. Among other provisions, the MOVE Act requires Uniformed Services to establish voter assistance offices on military installations and outlines the responsibilities of the offices.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) was created by the Department of Defense to administer the responsibilities of UOCAVA and to integrate recommendations made in the MOVE Act into Department of Defense Instruction 1000.04, Federal Voting Assistance Program.
