UOCAVA voters can download the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) from the internet and use it as a voter registration form and as a ballot request. The FPCA asks for a Social Security number and a state-issued driver’s license or identification number. This information is matched with state information to verify a voter is a real person.

But a directive from the Pennsylvania Department of State tells counties they cannot reject voter registrations from UOCAVA voters just because the numbers they provide on their application don’t match state database numbers. The state tells counties they “must” accept UOCAVA applications, even if the driver’s license or last four of the Social Security number cannot be matched. //

UOCAVA voting played a role in the 2020 election. The case cites a report from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission that says in 2020, the state received approximately 27,000 ballots through UOCAVA, with approximately 20,000 of those ballots coming from non-military applicants.

Already in 2024, more than 25,000 UOCAVA ballots have been transmitted to potentially unverified UOCAVA applicants, court papers say, citing the Department of State Absentee and Mail Ballot Report.

The congressmen asked the court to order the state to direct counties to verify UOCAVA voters’ identities before counting UOCAVA ballots. They also asked the court to order counties to segregate 2024 UOCAVA ballots until voters’ identity can be verified.