- department of state
- division of elections
- for voters
- voting
- vote by mail
last website update: May 25, 2022
what is voting by mail?
A vote-by-mail ballot means a ballot that you request and pick up or have delivered to you without actually voting at the polls during early voting or on Election Day. A voter must first be registered to vote before he or she can request a vote-by-mail ballot. an application to receive a vote-by-mail ballot covers all elections through the end of the calendar year for the next regularly scheduled general election unless otherwise noted to specifically apply to certain elections only within such period. a vote-by-mail ballot cannot be sent to an address other than the requested address. if a vote-by-mail ballot is returned and undeliverable, it will cancel an application for future elections and must be renewed.
how and who can request a vote-by-mail ballot
A vote-by-mail ballot can be requested in one of the following ways:
- in signed writing (for example, mail, fax, or scanned attachment to an email) to the supervisor of elections
- in person at the supervisor of elections’ office
- by phone to the supervisor of elections
The voter application must include the following information:
- the voter’s name;
- the voter’s date of birth;
- the voter’s address (if the request is to mail the ballot to an address other than on file, the request must be a signed writing. There is an exception for the absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot.);
- the voter’s Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, 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 (if the request is in writing).
A voter may designate a member of the immediate family (the spouse of the designated person or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the designated person or the spouse of the designated person) or legal guardian of the voter to request the ballot on your behalf. The following additional information is required for the application if the application is made on behalf of the voter:
- applicant’s address;
- applicant’s driver’s license number, state identification card, or the last four digits of the voter’s social security number (if available);
- the applicant’s relationship to the voter;
- the applicant’s signature (if the application is in writing).
what is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed?
The deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed is no later than 5 p.m. m. the tenth day before the election. a supervisor of elections must mail the ballot within 2 business days of the request. the last day a supervisor can mail a ballot is 8 days before the election.
who can pick up a vote-by-mail ballot
A voter can pick up their own vote-by-mail ballot at any time once the ballot is available, including on Election Day.
A voter may designate any person to pick up their ballot. the designated person may pick up the ballot no earlier than 9 days before Election Day. a designated person is limited to collecting vote-by-mail ballots for two other voters per election (not including his or her own ballot and the ballots of immediate family members). an immediate family member means the spouse of the designated person or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the designated person or the designated person’s spouse.
The designated person must submit an affidavit to pick up the voter’s blank ballot. form ds-de 37 (english pdf / español pdf) is a combined form that includes the affidavit to pick up the ballot, the written authorization for the designated person and, if the request is not already registered, the voter’s request to vote by mail ballot. If a voter or designee waits until Election Day to pick up or have delivered a vote-by-mail ballot, the Election Day Vote-by-Mail Ballot Delivery Affidavit (DS-DE 136 – english pdf / spanish pdf). the voter must affirm that there is an emergency that prevents them from voting at their assigned polling place.
how to vote with a vote-by-mail ballot
Instructions are included with the vote-by-mail ballot. Florida does not have a witness requirement to complete a ballot certificate.
how to request another ballot
if a ballot is lost or damaged (e.g., not yet arrived or long overdue, return envelope sealed due to moisture, wet ballot materials, food soiled, etc. .), a voter may request another ballot. contact your supervisor of elections office. contact information is here.
how to vote in person if a ballot is requested
A voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can change their mind and vote in person. the voter must bring the ballot (marked or unmarked) to the polls to drop it off and vote a regular ballot. if the voter does not bring the ballot to the polls for any reason, the supervisor of elections’ office must confirm that the ballot has not been returned and received. if the ballot has not been received, the voter may vote a regular ballot. if the ballot has been received, the ballot is considered cast and the voter has voted. if the voter believes the charge is incorrect for any reason, they are permitted to vote a provisional ballot. the matter will then be presented to the canvassing board for its determination. if it cannot be determined whether the ballot has been received, the voter will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. see section 101.69, fl. statistics.
what is the deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot?
A returned voted ballot, regardless of postmark, must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7:00 p.m. m. (local time) on election day. There is a 10-day extension for overseas voters for presidential preference primary and general elections only, as long as the ballot is postmarked or dated by Election Day. otherwise, late ballots are not counted.
what is the recommended time frame for returning a vote-by-mail ballot?
the united states postal service recommends that domestic non-military voters mail their marked ballots at least one (1) week before the election day deadline to account for any unforeseen events or weather issues .
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides recommended earlier deadlines (see schedule at the bottom of the FVAP website) for overseas and absentee military voters. For more information on Election Mail and the United States Postal Service, visit the Election Mail webpage.
how to return a vote-by-mail ballot
A vote-by-mail ballot can be returned by mail or delivered in person. If returned by mail, it may be returned by the United States Postal Service or another private or commercial carrier, provided the ballot is received by the required deadline. You can find more information on whatthe recommended deadline for returning a vote-by-mail ballot to ensure timely receipt on this webpage below.
A vote-by-mail ballot cannot be returned online, by fax, by email, or by fax with one exception. Overseas voters (civilian and military) have the option of returning their ballot by mail or by fax. Visit the Military and Overseas Voting webpage for more information.
secure ballot receiving stations
Vote-by-mail ballots can also be returned to secure ballot receiving stations. these secure ballot receiving stations should be at the election office supervisors and at each branch. additionally, these stations will be placed at each designated early voting site in the county during the early voting period as scheduled in the county. optional stations may be added at the discretion of the county supervisor of elections, provided the stations are located at a site that might otherwise have qualified as an early voting site and the site is staffed and monitored in accordance with section 101.69 , fla. To find out the location, dates and times of all the secure ballot receiving stations in your county and/or about their security, visit your Supervisor of Elections website or contact your office. contact information is here.
how to fix a missing or mismatched signature on your vote-by-mail ballot
A supervisor of elections is required to notify a voter as soon as possible if a voter’s signature is missing or does not match the one on record. Once a voter becomes aware of the missing or mismatched signature, the voter may complete and return a “Cure Vote By Mail Ballot” Affidavit (Form DS-DE 139 – English pdf / Español pdf) with a copy of identification. documentation can be returned by mail, email, fax or in person. the deadline to submit the form and ID is no later than 5 p.m. (local time) on the second day after an election. failure to follow instructions may result in the ballot not being counted.
how to track your vote-by-mail ballot request and returned ballot
Any voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can track the status of their ballot online through the county supervisor of elections website or access the county-specific link on our vote-by-mail ballot information web page. by mail and status search.
The United States Postal Service also provides a free service (online registration) called Informed Delivery that allows a voter to preview a digital image of the address side of certain pieces of mail, such as a ballot. by requested mail that will arrive at the mailing address of the voter. other options, if time does not permit timely return by mail, include in-person delivery, secure ballot receiving stations designated by the county supervisor of elections, or expedited or special courier services.
Note: If a voter’s registration information is protected under section 119.071(2), (4), or (5), Florida Statutes, or if the voter is a participating in the office of the attorney general’s address confidentiality program, the voter should contact the office of the supervisor of elections about the status of the ballot and the vote-by-mail application.