other elements that you should always take into account for any choice:
register to vote by mail
track your vote-by-mail ballot
- what is voting by mail?
- who can vote by mail?
- how do I request a vote by mail ballot for myself? ?
- how do I request a vote-by-mail ballot for another voter?
- how do I pick up a vote-by-mail ballot?
- how do I vote with my vote-by-mail ballot?
- how do you evaluate the signature on my vote-by-mail ballot?
- how do I return my vote-by-mail ballot? vote-by-mail ballot?
- how do I keep track of my vote-by-mail ballot after I return it?
- special information for military voters, their dependents, and other service voters absent uniform
- special information for overseas voters
- how do I download a vote-by-mail application form?
- what if I have already applied for and received a vote-by-mail application form? -mail-in ballot for an election? can I still vote in person?
- Should I include the confidential sleeve with my returned vote-by-mail ballot?
- If I am disabled, is there a way I can vote from home on a computer?
what is voting by mail? In addition to voting on Election Day in your precinct or voting at an early voting site, you have a third option: voting by mail. any registered voter can vote by mail.
You can request vote-by-mail ballots for all elections in which you are eligible to vote through the end of the next general election year after you apply. (the maximum duration until the end of October 2022 would be December 31, 2022). or you can request one or more specific elections during that period.
ballots are initially mailed in the us. uu. between 40 and 33 days before an election to those voters who have applications on file. For requests received after the initial mailing, ballots are generally mailed within two business days of receipt of the request. If you want your ballot mailed to you, Florida law requires the Supervisor of Elections to receive your request no later than 5:00 p.m. m. the tenth (10) day before the election (Saturday). Beginning the ninth (9th) day before the election (Sunday), a voter may designate another person to pick up their vote-by-mail ballot at the supervisor of elections’ office (see procedure below).
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. the tenth day before an election.
Ballots generally cannot be picked up on Election Day. Only if there is “an emergency to the extent that the voter is unable to go to their assigned polling place” will ballots be available for pickup. in that case, the person picking up the vote-by-mail ballot must “execute an Election Day Vote-by-Mail Ballot Delivery Affidavit stating the facts permitting delivery of the vote-by-mail ballot” and whether those facts are false, the person signing may be subject to penalties for perjury.
We will mail you a ballot, a pre-addressed return envelope, and a confidential sleeve with printed instructions. mark your ballot just as you would at your polling place. you must place your folded ballot inside the secret sleeve, although you are not required to do so. place the ballot in the return envelope and seal it. be sure to sign the voter certificate on the back of the return envelope. You will usually mail the ballot to us, making sure to enclose proper postage (domestic postage must be paid by the county). however, you may return the ballot to our office, at any secure drop box at any early voting site during early voting hours, or have someone return it for you. however, it is a third degree misdemeanor to distribute, order, request, collect, deliver, or otherwise physically possess more than two election-by-mail ballots, in addition to the ballot itself or a ballot belonging to a relative. Just make sure the ballot is received (not postmarked) in our office by 7:00 p.m. m. of election day.
When requesting a vote-by-mail ballot, please note that the signature on the envelope containing your returned voted ballot will be compared to the signature we have on file for you. Since voter signatures sometimes change over time, it is especially important for voters who use vote-by-mail ballots to make sure the supervisor of elections has a copy of their current signature on file. Voters can submit a registration form online to update their signature (your signature on your driver’s license will become your registration signature), or you can mail or hand-deliver a paper form to our office.
Vote-by-mail ballots are kept in a secure vault until they are presented to the canvassing board. only a select few people have the vault code. ballots open to public view approximately 2-3 weeks before Election Day, depending on volume. results are tabulated after 7:00 p.m. m. of election day. they are then included with the unofficial results released on election night, unless specifically noted otherwise.
Please note that most municipal elections are not included in your application. Municipal elections in Alachua County (except Gainesville) are administered by the municipalities themselves. you must contact them directly to obtain vote-by-mail ballots for your election.
Who can vote by mail? If you are currently a registered qualified voter in Alachua County, you have the right to vote by mail.
If you temporarily reside in Alachua County but remain a qualified registered voter in another county or state, you must request your vote-by-mail ballot from the county or state where you are registered.
How do I request a vote-by-mail ballot for myself? You can request vote-by-mail ballots through this website, in person, by mail, by phone, or by fax.
Applications must include your: • name • current legal residence address (no P.O. Boxes) • date of birth • last four digits of social security number or full Florida driver’s license/ florida identification number (whatever is on file) • signature (mail and fax applications only)
if you were previously registered to vote in alachua county but have now moved to another place and are no longer home in this county, you should no longer be registered here and you should update your voter registration with the office election in the county or state where you now have your legal residence.
On the other hand, if you will not be at your residence address to receive the ballot because you are simply away temporarily, you must provide a mailing address for the ballot. vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded by the us postal service
website requests requests for a vote-by-mail ballot should use this link:
In-Person Applications Applications may be made at the Supervisor of Elections office at 515 N Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. Hours of operation are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm pm, Monday through Friday. normal holidays apply.
Mail Applications Applications should be sent to: Supervisor of Elections 515 N Main Street, Suite 300 Gainesville, FL 32601
You can print the form using the link at the bottom of this page.
telephone request requests can be made by calling (352) 374-5252. Our hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. again, normal holidays apply.
fax applications applications should be faxed to (352) 374-5264.
How do I request a vote-by-mail ballot for another voter? Only a designated member of a voter’s immediate family (or legal guardian) can request a vote-by-mail ballot for that voter. voter and can do so only if the voter directs them to do so. immediate family means the spouse of the voter or the parent, child, grandparent or sibling of the voter or the voter’s spouse.
Requests can be made through this website, in person, by mail, by phone or by fax.
Applications must include (unless overseas/military/military dependent):
- voter’s name
- voter’s current legal residence address (no P.O. Boxes)
- voter’s date of birth
- voter’s Florida the voter’s driver’s license number, Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of the voter’s social security number, whichever can be verified from the supervisor’s records
- the voter’s signature (written applications only)
- applicant’s name
- applicant’s address
- applicant’s driver’s license number/ID card number, or the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number (if available)
- the applicant’s relationship to the voter
- the applicant’s signature (written applications only)
If the voter will not be at their residence address to receive the ballot, a mailing address for the ballot must be provided. vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded by the us postal service
Website Requests Vote-by-mail ballot requests should use our Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Form.
In-Person Applications Applications can be made at the Supervisor of Elections office at 515 N Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. Be sure to bring a photo and signature ID. hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. normal holidays apply.
Mail Applications Applications should be sent to: Supervisor of Elections 515 N Main Street, Suite 300 Gainesville, FL 32601
You can print the form using the link at the bottom of this page.
Telephone Requests Requests can be made by calling (352) 374-5252. Our hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. again, normal holidays apply.
fax applications applications should be faxed to (352) 374-5264.
How do I pick up a vote-by-mail ballot? Voters can pick up a ballot for themselves at any time after ballots are printed and available. simply come into the supervisor of elections office and bring a photo and signature ID. You can vote the ballot right away, or you can return it later by mail, in person, or have someone else return it for you. Vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the office of the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7:00 p.m. m. of election day.
Beginning nine (9) days before the election (ie, the first Sunday of early voting), you may authorize someone else to pick up your vote-by-mail ballot from the supervisor of elections’ office. Your designee must have a note signed by you, a photo ID (of the designee), and a completed affidavit. Instructions related to the note and a copy of the required affidavit are available for download. the designee may not collect more than two (2) vote-by-mail ballots per election, not including the designee’s own ballot and the ballots of members of his or her immediate family.
Note: Vote-by-mail ballot pickup on Election Day is limited to emergencies only. this is regardless of whether the voter or a designated person must pick up the ballot.
How do I vote my vote-by-mail ballot?
Instructions for voting your vote-by-mail ballot will be included with the ballot. be sure to secretly mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. be sure to completely fill in the oval to the left of the candidates or issues of your choice. Be sure to sign the voter certificate on the back of the return envelope. Make sure your ballot is received at the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7: 00 pm m. on election day (different rules sometimes apply to overseas voters).
If you make a mistake, do not cross out or erase or use wite-out™. contact the election office and request a new ballot. If for some reason you got a vote-by-mail ballot but want to vote at an early voting location or in your precinct on Election Day, take your vote-by-mail ballot with you to the polls. if you do not bring the ballot with you to cancel it, you may be directed to vote a provisional ballot.
How do you evaluate my signature on the vote-by-mail ballot?
A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and will not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does not match the signature on record. the signature on record at the time your vote-by-mail ballot is received by the supervisor of elections is the signature that will be used to verify your signature on the voter certificate. If you need to update your signature for this election, please submit your signature update on a voter registration application to your supervisor of elections so it is received before your vote-by-mail ballot is received.
If your ballot envelope was returned to us without your signature, or if the signature on the ballot does not match the one we have on file, this error can be corrected. if that happens, please complete this affidavit (english | español) to correct this error and send it to us with a copy of your valid photo ID (you can fax it to 352-374-5264 or mail it to email at mbruckman@alachuacounty.us) before 5 p.m. the Thursday following Election Day.
How do I return my vote-by-mail ballot? vote-by-mail ballots are usually mailed to the us. uu. residents between 40 and 33 days before Election Day or, if you request later, within two business days of your request. allow plenty of time for the post office to deliver your ballot. however, if you have not received your vote-by-mail ballot within a reasonable period of time, you should check with our office. Call us at (352) 374-5252 or send us an email. Don’t wait until the last week before Election Day to contact us or we may not be able to mail you a ballot!
Before returning your voted vote-by-mail ballot, be sure to seal it in the return envelope provided and sign the voter certificate on the back of the envelope. most voters choose to return their marked ballot by mail. if so, if you are abroad, make sure you have enclosed the proper postage (domestic postage will be paid by the county) and that there is sufficient time for the post office to give it to us before Election Day. Voters may also choose to return their voted ballot sealed in the signed return envelope to our office in person, or you may have someone else deliver it to us for you. vote-by-mail ballots cannot be dropped off at the voter’s precinct on Election Day. all vote-by-mail ballots must be received in our office at 515 n. main street, gainesville, fl 32601 at 7 p.m. on election day.
Voters may also return their vote-by-mail ballots to any early voting site during early voting hours or to the white secure drop box (hours TBD), located outside the office of the district supervisor of elections. alachua county, 515 north . main street, gainesville, fl 32601.
How can I track my ballot after I return it? Voters can always contact our office to check the status of their vote-by-mail ballot. however, this information is also available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The menu bar at the top of every page on this website has a “my registration status” link. click on that link and answer a few questions. you will then have access to information such as when we mailed your ballot to you, the address it was mailed to, if it was received at our office, and when. You will also be able to find out if your ballot envelope was returned to us without your signature, or if the signature on the ballot does not match the one we have on file. again, if that happens, please complete this affidavit (English | Spanish) to correct this error and send it to us with a copy of your valid photo ID (you can fax it to 352-374-5264 or email it to mbruckman@alachuacounty.us) before 5 p.m. m. the Thursday following Election Day.
If your ballot was rejected by the canvassing board, a letter will be sent to you after the election telling you and explaining why. By far the most common reasons for not accepting ballots are: the ballot was received late, the voter certificate on the back of the return envelope is not signed, and the signature on the return envelope does not match the signature on the return envelope. election office. take care to avoid these errors. Even with these potential errors, in a typical election throughout Alachua County, fewer than 1 in 140 returned vote-by-mail ballots will be initially rejected.
Special information for absentee military and other uniformed services voters A “absentee uniformed services voter” is a member of an active duty uniformed service or a serving member of the merchant marine or the spouse or a dependent of such member who, due to service or active duty, is absent from the place of residence where he or she would otherwise be qualified to vote. See Florida Statute 97.021(2).
If your absence has taken you abroad, skip this section. instead, see the section below on “special information for overseas voters.”
if you qualify as a uniformed services absentee voter, then your ballot will be mailed no later than 45 days prior to election day, your ballot is eligible to be mailed by us. uu. post office, and you can request to have your ballot emailed or faxed to you.
Note: Absentee uniformed services voters typically cannot use email or fax to return their voted ballot. dDifferent rules apply if you are abroad.
United Services absentee voters should request vote-by-mail ballots using our vote-by-mail ballot request form. You may also call our office at (352) 374-5252, fax your application to (352) 374-5264, apply in person, or mail your application.
Absentee uniformed services voters who wish to update their signature, change their party affiliation, or make any other changes to their voter registration, may use the Federal Post Card Application Form (Form FPCA). The original of this form must be mailed or delivered to our office. We can accept forms sent by email or fax only if they are to update your mailing address or update your residence address in alachua county.
special information for overseas voters an overseas voter is:
- an absentee voter in the uniformed services who, due to service or active duty, is absent from the United States on the date of the election,
- a person who resides outside the states united states and is qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the united states, or
- a person who resides outside the united states and, but for such residence, would be qualified to vote in the last place the person was domiciled before leaving the United States.
See Florida Statute 97.021(24).
if and only if you qualify as an overseas voter, your vote-by-mail ballot will be mailed no later than 45 days before Election Day, your ballot is eligible to be remailed , and your ballot may be emailed to you. Only overseas voters may return their ballot by fax. Under current Florida law, no voter may return their ballot by email.
Overseas voters should only request vote-by-mail ballots using our vote-by-mail ballot request form. You may also call our office at (352) 374-5252, fax your application to (352) 374-5264, apply in person, or mail your application.
Overseas voters who wish to update their signature, change their party affiliation, or make any other changes to their voter registration can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form.
Additional information for military and overseas voters is available from the Federal Voting Assistance Program, by calling toll-free (800) 438-8683 or by emailing vote@fvap.ncr.gov
How do I download a vote-by-mail request form? PDF versions of our vote-by-mail request form are available for download below.
vote-by-mail request form in English vote-by-mail request form in Spanish
What if I have already applied for and received a vote-by-mail ballot for an election? Can I still vote in person? Even if you have already applied for and received a vote-by-mail ballot for an election, you can still vote in person, during early voting or on Election Day, as long as your mail-in ballot has not been returned to the election office supervisor. those who have already voted by mail cannot vote again in person during the same election.
Do I need to include the secret sleeve when I return my vote-by-mail ballot? Although it is recommended that you include the secret sleeve with your returned vote-by-mail ballot, you do not have to, and your ballot it will continue to be accepted and processed without it, as long as other requirements are met.
If I am disabled, is there a way I can vote from home on a computer?
Under our new accessible voting program, voters with disabilities will be able to access a special “accessible ballot” via a special email link (printing, signing and mailing the ballot is still required). The accessible voting system is restricted to registered voters in Alachua County, Florida who have identified themselves as disabled. use this form and mail, fax, in person, or scan as an email attachment and send to votebymail@alachuacounty.us