Florida Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Important Deadlines

• Voter registration: Postmarked at least 29 days before the election
• Absentee ballot application: Received by 5pm on the Wednesday before the election
• Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 7pm Election Day

How to vote by absentee ballot

Register to vote

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  If you don't have a Florida license or state ID card, you should include a copy of your identification.

You can also download and fill out Florida's Voter Registration form.  Mail the form to the Supervisor of Elections of your county. 

Verify your voter registration

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can verify your voter registration here. 

Make sure you're eligible to vote by absentee ballot

Good news! Any registered Florida voter may vote by absentee ballot.

Apply for your absentee ballot

NOTE: effective July 1, 2010, all Supervisor of Election websites offer on-line absentee ballot requests.  You'll have to click around a bit to find them, but it's appears to be a viable option for requesting an absentee ballot.   You can also apply in person, by telephone, or by mail. 

You may also instruct a member of your immediate family - or your legal guardian - to apply on your behalf.  They can use the Florida Absentee Ballot Application we've created, or they can write a letter that contains the following information. 

• the name of the voter for whom the ballot is being requested;
• the voter’s address;
• the voter’s date of birth;
• the requestor’s name;
• the requestor’s address;
• the requestor’s driver’s license number (if available);
• the requestor’s relationship to the voter; and
• the requestor’s signature (if the request is written).

You can ask your Supervisor of Elections to mail your absentee ballot, or you can ask to pick up your absentee ballot in person, or you can designate someone to pick up the ballot for you.

If you request that your absentee ballot be mailed to you, the request must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 5 p.m. on the 6th day before the election.

Receive, complete and return your voted absentee ballot

Most people will opt to receive their ballots in the mail.  You can also pick up your absentee ballot in person beginning five days before the election right up to election day.  You can also designate someone else to pick up your ballot for you. A designee may pick up an absentee ballot for you on election day or up to 5 days before an election. A designee may only pick up 2 absentee ballots per election (other than his or her own ballot and ballots for members of his or her immediate family). Designees must provide the following information to the Supervisor of Elections:

• a written authorization from the voter;
• a picture identification; and
• a signed affidavit.

Once you receive and complete your ballot, mail or hand deliver it to your Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on election day. If you return a voted absentee ballot to a polling place, your ballot will be destroyed and you will need to vote again in person. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to provide ID when I register to vote?

If you are a first-time Florida voter and you do not have an Florida driver's license number or Florida identification number, then you must include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you don't, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a copy of a photo ID that shows your name (U.S Passport, employee ID, buyers club ID, debit/credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, public assistance ID); OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and Florida address.  Elderly (65 years or old), disabled, overseas, and military voters are exempt from these ID requirements. 

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot?

You do not need to provide ID if you have already voted in Florida at least once.  If you are a first-time Florida voter who registered by mail, and you did not include your Florida driver's license number or Florida identification card number on your voter registration form, then you must provide a copy of your identification with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a copy of a photo ID that shows your name (U.S. Passport, employee ID, buyers club ID, debit/credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, public assistance ID) OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and Florida address. 

Can I vote by absentee ballot on a permanent basis?

Sort of.  You can request an absentee ballot for a specific election, or you can submit one absentee ballot application for applications for the next regularly scheduled general election.  (General elections take place in November of evenly numbered years: 2010, 2012, etc.)  If you choose the second option, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election in which you are eligible to vote through the next regularly scheduled general election. 

I've already received my absentee ballot.  Can I still vote in person?

YES!  You must bring your absentee ballot (voted or not) with you to the polls so it can be destroyed.  If you forget the ballot, you'll have to vote a provisional ballot. 

Additional Information