Glossary
General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation of the European Union that requires businesses to protect the personal information of the citizens of the EU.
Witness
A person asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place.
Domicile
Your "last US residence" is meant to be your domicile. Under traditional rules and state law, a person is permitted to register and vote only in the place that constitutes his/her domicile. Different rules apply to active duty servicemembers, but ...
Voting Residence
For civilian U.S. citizens outside of the U.S. the voting residence is the "Last U.S. Residence" or the last place you lived (were domiciled) before leaving the U.S. The voting residence does not depend on where you last voted. Your "last US ...
Voting Region
The district/election jurisdiction in which a vote is counted. This could be a County, a City, a Town or a Parish.
Uniformed Services Voter (Absent)
An absent uniformed services voter is a member of one of the U.S. uniformed services, currently serving away from their home voting district on active duty. The uniformed services are the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as ...
Uniformed Services
Uniformed Services include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps.
Primary Election
The mechanism for choosing which candidates will run for each party in the final General Election.
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)
Current federal law that regulates voting for overseas and military citizens, which was passed in 1985. UOCAVA requires the states and territories to allow these citizens to register and vote in elections for federal office using absentee voting ...
State Election
An election involving state level officials such as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State legislature
House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the ...
Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
Created in 1955 by the Federal Voting Assistance Act, the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) is the federal government agency that is responsible for implementing UOCAVA and is a part of the Department of Defense. The FVAP also administers the ...
Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. ...
Enfranchisement
The statutory right (legal right) giving a person the right to vote
Electoral College
Rather than directly voting for the President and Vice President, in the U.S. voters choose electors. These electors meet formally elect the President and Vice President of the U.S. The size of the Electoral College is equal to the total membership ...
Democratic
As in the "Democratic Party," which is one of the two major political parties in the U.S.
Democracy
A form of government in which the power to create and change laws is either directly exercised by the people (direct democracy) or by means of elected representatives of the people (representative democracy), and is defined by the existence of ...
Voting Rights
Eligibility to vote in the U.S. is determined by both Federal and state law. Currently, only citizens can vote in U.S. elections. Absent of federal law or constitutional amendment, each State is given considerable discretion to establish ...
American Citizenship
Citizenship is the status given to a legal member of the United States. Individuals can automatically be American citizens from birth (known as birthright citizenship) if they are born within the U.S. or if they are born to an American citizen. ...
Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act)
Passed by the Senate in October 2009, this act amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act, referred to as "UOCAVA". Among other things, the MOVE Act: mandates a 45-day window for ballot transmission disallows the rejection of ballots for ...
Voting Assistance Guide (VAG)
In its biennial Voting Assistance Guide (VAG), the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) compiles absentee voting regulations, laws and deadlines. This document is an important source of reference information for those who assist overseas and ...
Voting Assistance Officer (VAO)
UOCAVA requires each Federal department and agency with personnel covered by UOCAVA to have a voting assistance program. Each military unit has a VAO and the Department of State has a VAO at select embassies and consulates.
Republic
A republic government is a type of government where the citizens choose the leaders of their country and the people (or at least a part of its people) have an impact on its government. In the United States, James Madison defined republic in terms of ...
Nonpartisan
Free from party affiliation, bias or designation
Republican
As in the "Republican Party," which is one of the two major political parties in the U.S.
Secretary of State
On the national level, refers to the person responsible for foreign policy and is a member of the President's cabinet. On the state level, the Secretary of State is an administrative officer responsible for certain governmental functions. The ...
Civic Engagement
"Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, ...
Absentee Ballot
A ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.
Commissioned Officer
An officer of the armed forces holding by a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above.
Dependent
A person who relies on another for support. A dependent of a uniformed service member may be a spouse or other family member.
Domicile of Origin
For U.S. uniformed services on active duty, a domicile of origin is the place he/she lived/were domiciled immediately before entering active duty.
Federal Election
An election for the offices of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, and Congressional offices (Member of the U.S. Senate, and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives). Delegates from the District of Columbia, and the territories of ...
Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)
The official federal government name given to the voter registration form used by voters eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The same form is used for ballot requests and change-of-address ...
Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
1) An alternative, downloadable ballot, accepted by all states and territories, which you can use to vote in federal elections for the offices of President/Vice President, US Representative, and US Senator. 2) A back-up ballot, only valid when a U.S. ...
Forwarding Address
For purposes of voter registration, an address other than your Current Address where you can receive your blank ballot by mail.
Local Election Official (LEO)
The election official in each U.S. voting jurisdiction responsible for election administration at the district level. Contact information for your Local Election Official can be found in the Election Official Directory on our website.
Notary (Public)
A public officer who attests or certifies writings (as a deed) to make them authentic and takes affidavits, depositions, and protests of negotiable paper -- called also notary.