The dos and don’ts of voting by mail in Florida in 2024

All registered Florida voters have the right to vote by mail, without providing a reason or proof that they’ll be out of town. 

Voting by mail is one of the most convenient, easy, and least time-consuming ways to vote.

It’s also secure and effective to vote by mail.

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All registered Florida voters have the right to vote by mail, without providing a reason or proof that they’ll be out of town. 

But it’s important to know the correct steps to follow so that your ballot will be counted without problems.

These are the dos of voting by mail:

• First of all, you need to ensure you are registered to vote. You can check here.
• Request a vote-by-mail ballot be sent at your home or picked up at your County Supervisor of Elections office. 
• Fill out the application form. 
• Submit your application by mail, fax, email, or in person to your County Supervisor of Elections office.
• The application must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election. For the Aug. 20 primary election, the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2024. For the Nov. 5 general election, you have until 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 24.
• A vote-by-mail ballot request is valid for all elections until the end of the year following the next general election.
• If a ballot is lost or damaged, voters can request another ballot.
• A completed ballot must reach the Supervisor of Elections’ office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark.

Here are some dont’s:

• Don’t forget to register to vote.
• Don’t request a vote-by-mail ballot after the established deadline.
• Don’t skip filling out the application form.
• Don’t forget to submit your application by mail, fax, email, or in person to your County Supervisor of Elections office, before the deadline, which is Aug. 8 for the August 20 primary election, and Oct. 24 for the general election on Nov. 5.
• Don’t assume a vote-by-mail ballot request is indefinite; it is valid for all elections until the end of the year following the next general election.
• Don’t use a damaged ballot; voters can request another one.
• Do not send a completed ballot that won’t reach the Supervisor of Elections’ office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, because it won’t be counted.

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Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.