The Federal Voting Assistance Act is passed to assist members of the military with voter registration and voting while stationed overseas. Since voting rules are generally set at the state level, the act recommends but does not guarantee absentee registration and voting by members of the military, federal employees living outside the U.S. and civil service members. Adoption of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act in 1986 now guarantees nearly all U.S. citizens temporarily residing abroad the right to register and vote.