Who Can Vote by Mail
All qualified voters are permitted to Vote by Mail under Florida law.
How to Vote by Mail
A voter, or someone designated by the voter, may request a vote by mail ballot from the supervisor of elections in person, by mail or by telephone. One request can cover all elections within a calendar year. If you would like to have a vote by mail ballot mailed to you, contact your supervisor of elections by 5 p.m. on the sixth day before an election. The person requesting a vote by mail ballot must disclose:
The name of the voter for whom the ballot is requested;
The voter’s address;
The voter’s date of birth;
The requester’s name;
The requester’s address;
The requester’s driver’s license number, if available;
The requester’s relationship to the voter; and,
The requester’s signature (written request only).
Marked ballots must be mailed or delivered in person reaching the supervisor of elections’ office not later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. Do not return your voted absentee ballot to a polling place.
A designee may pick up a vote by mail ballot for a voter on election day or up to 4 days before election day. A designee may only pick up two vote by mail ballots per election, other than his or her own ballot or ballots for members of his or her immediate family. Designee's must have written authorization from the voter, present a picture I.D. and sign an affidavit.
If you have obtained a vote by mail ballot but are able to vote in your precinct on election day, you must take the absentee ballot with you to the polls, whether or not it has been marked. However, if you are unable to return the ballot, you may vote a provisional ballot.
(see sections 101.048, 101.62 and 101.69, Florida Statutes)
In Person Vote by Mail Voting (Early Voting)
The 2004 Legislature passed legislation which standardized early voting throughout the state. Early voting is defined as "casting a ballot prior to election day at a location designated by the supervisor of elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system".
Early voting may begin 15 days before an election and will end on the 2nd day before an election. The supervisor of elections will offer early voting in the main or branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor may also designate any city hall or public library as an early voting site; however, if so designated, these sites must be geographically located so that all voters in the county will have an equal opportunity to cast a vote.
Early voting will be conducted 8 hours per day on each weekday during the early voting period and will be provided for 8 hours in the aggregate for each weekend during the period. Each supervisor of elections will designate the early voting sites 30 days prior to an election. For additional information on dates, times, and locations, please contact the office of your county supervisor of elections.
Voters who want to vote early should remember to bring a photo and signature identification with them.
Military and Overseas Citizens Registering and Voting by Mail
Members of the United States Uniformed Services on active duty and the Merchant Marine, their spouses and dependents, and United States citizens residing outside of the United States may apply for voter registration or request a Vote by Mail ballot with a Federal Post Card Application, FPCA, which may be obtained from a Voting Assistance Officer or through the Internet at www.fvap.gov. The Federal Post Card Application request for a Vote by Mail ballot will be effective for all elections through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. If the FPCA is not available, phone or send a written request by mail, fax, or e-mail to the supervisor of elections and a voter registration application or Vote by Mail ballot will be sent to you.
If you are overseas, you may have your Vote by Mail ballot either faxed or e-mailed to you, in lieu of receiving it by regular mail. Once your Vote by Mail ballot is voted, you may either return it by fax or you may mail it to the supervisor of elections so that it is received no later than 7 p.m. on election day. Voted ballots returned by e-mail will not be accepted. Carefully follow the instructions sent to you with your Vote by Mail ballot to ensure that it is counted. You must be sure to not only sign, but DATE the absentee ballot envelope to ensure that your ballot is counted.
If an overseas voter’s request for a Vote by Mail ballot includes an e-mail address, the supervisor of elections will inform the voter of the names of candidates who will be on the ballots via electronic transmission. The supervisor of elections will e-mail to the voter the list of candidates for the primary and general election not later than 45 days before each election.
(see section 101.6952, Florida Statutes)