U.S. Code » Title 52 » Subtitle Subtitle II— Voting Assistance and Election Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 203— REGISTRATION AND VOTING BY ABSENT UNIFORMED SERVICES VOTERS AND OVERSEAS VOTERS IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE

52 U.S.C. § 20310

Definitions

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As used in this chapter, the term—(1) “absent uniformed services voter” means—(A) a member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of such active duty, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote;(B) a member of the merchant marine who, by reason of service in the merchant marine, is absent from the place of residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; and(C) a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the place of residence where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote;(2) “balloting materials” means official post card forms (prescribed under section 20301 of this title), Federal write-in absentee ballots (prescribed under section 20303 of this title), and any State balloting materials that, as determined by the Presidential designee, are essential to the carrying out of this chapter;(3) “Federal office” means the office of President or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress;(4) “member of the merchant marine” means an individual (other than a member of a uniformed service or an individual employed, enrolled, or maintained on the Great Lakes or the inland waterways)—(A) employed as an officer or crew member of a vessel documented under the laws of the United States, or a vessel owned by the United States, or a vessel of foreign-flag registry under charter to or control of the United States; or(B) enrolled with the United States for employment or training for employment, or maintained by the United States for emergency relief service, as an officer or crew member of any such vessel;(5) “overseas voter” means—(A) an absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of active duty or service is absent from the United States on the date of the election involved;(B) a person who resides outside the United States and is qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States; or(C) a person who resides outside the United States and (but for such residence) would be qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the United States.(6) “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa;(7) “uniformed services” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and(8) “United States”, where used in the territorial sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.(Pub. L. 99–410, title I, § 107, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 927.)Editorial NotesCodification

Section was formerly classified to section 1973ff–6 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesTransfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 2015–2026 · leading case: United States v. Vaello Madero, 596 U.S. 159 (2022).
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United States v. Vaello Madero, 596 U.S. 159 (2022). “, 52 U. S. C. §20310 (8). In this context, however, Congress did not extend the SSI program to Puerto Rico and other Territories.”
Segovia v. Bd. of Election Commissioners, 201 F. Supp. 3d 924 (N.D. Ill. 2016). · cites it 8× “The plaintiffs challenge the constitutionality of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (“UOCAVA”), contending that it violates their equal protection and due process rights by barring them from casting absentee ballots in Illinois for…”
United States v. State of Alabama, 778 F.3d 926 (11th Cir. 2015). “” 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (1). It defines "overseas voter” to include: (1) “an absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of active duty or service is absent from the United States on the date' of the election involved”; (2) "a person who resides outside the United States and is…”
Segovia v. Bd. of Election Commissioners, 218 F. Supp. 3d 643 (N.D. Ill. 2016). · cites it 2× “52 U.S.C. § 20310 (6). • “United States,” where used in the territorial sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
Reeves v. Nago, No. 1:20-cv-00433, 2021 WL 1602397 (D. Haw. Apr. 23, 2021). · cites it 3× “¶ 48 (citing 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (5)). “States” and the territorial use of “United States” include a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
Vicente Borja v. Scott Nago, 115 F.4th 971 (9th Cir. 2024). “” 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (5)(C). The Act in turn defines the “United States” to include “the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
League of United Latin Am. Citizens v. Exec. Off. of the President, No. 2025-0946 (D.D.C. Jan. 30, 2026). · cites it 2× “at 30–31 (quoting 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (1), (5)). These arguments fail to persuade.”
Luis Segovia v. United States, No. 16-4240 (7th Cir. Jan. 18, 2018). “Federal law says the United States “means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Common‐ wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Ameri‐ can Samoa[,]” 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (8), while Illinois law says that it includes “the District of Columbia, the…”
United States v. Vaello Madero, No. 20-303 (U.S. Apr. 28, 2022). “, 52 U. S. C. §20310 (8). In this context, however, Congress did not extend the SSI program to Puerto Rico and other Territories.”
Reeves v. Nago, No. 1:20-cv-00433 (D. Haw. Sept. 2, 2021). “¶ 49 (citing 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (6) & (8)). The Northern Mariana Islands (“NMI”) is excluded from these definitions.”
Reeves v. Nago, No. 1:20-cv-00433 (D. Haw. Sept. 6, 2022). “See 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (5)(B)–(C). “States” and the territorial use of “United States” include a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
Vicente Borja v. Scott Nago, No. 22-16742 (9th Cir. Aug. 30, 2024). “” 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (5)(C). The Act in turn defines the “United States” to include “the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”
Show all 15 citing cases →
52 U.S.C. § 20310(6): 1 case
Segovia v. Bd. of Election Commissioners, 201 F. Supp. 3d 924 (N.D. Ill. 2016). “The plaintiffs challenge the constitutionality of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20310 (“UOCAVA”), contending that it violates their equal protection and due process rights by barring them from casting absentee ballots in Illinois for…”
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