Free priority mail express military service for asbsentee ballots

Customers can mail their completed absentee ballots back to the United States for free using priority mail express military service until Nov. 30. The Department of Defense, in collaboration with the United States Postal Service, is again offering this expedited, free service to ensure ballots from American citizens stationed or living overseas arrive in time for the upcoming general federal elections, said Lionel Rivera, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa A6 Postal Operations Branch.

In order to receive this free service, customers must present their absentee ballots at a post office finance window. Finance window clerks will give customers a copy of the express mail 11-DOD label. The express mail label includes a tracking number customers can use to track the status of their ballots on the USPS website.

This service is only available to citizens who are casting their vote by absentee ballot and cannot be used for other voting material mailings. All American citizens overseas, regardless of their status, are authorized to use this free service and the Military Postal System to mail their absentee ballots at any military post office, Rivera said.

Customers can contact their local Army post office postmaster for additional information.