What is an absentee ballot and how do I get one this year?

All registered Florida voters have the right to vote by mail (also known as absentee voting) without providing a reason or proof that they’ll be out of town.

Being short on time isn’t an excuse for not voting in the 2024 elections in Florida.

Voters have many ways to exercise their right to vote, including without leaving their house.

RELATED: Early voting in Florida: Where, when and how to vote

All registered Florida voters have the right to vote by mail (also known as absentee voting) without providing a reason or proof that they’ll be out of town. 

How to request a vote-by-mail ballot

Once registered, you can request that a vote-by-mail ballot be sent to you or picked up in person.

That petition can be made by filling out an application form or by phone or in person at your County Supervisor of Elections office. 

The request must include the following information:

• The voter’s name, date of birth, and address (a signed written request is also required if the address is different from the address on file).  Voters will also need their Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, or the last four digits of their  social security number, whichever may be verified in the supervisor’s records, and the voter’s signature (if the request is written).

You need to print and complete this application form. Once completed, return your application via mail, fax, as an email attachment, or in-person to your County Supervisor of Elections office. Find your local office contact information here. You may also call and have an office employee help you complete the form by phone. 

Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election. For the 2024 primary election, this date is Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. For the 2024 general election, this means Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. 

A request for a vote-by-mail ballot is valid for all elections from the date of submission until the end of the calendar year following the next regularly scheduled general election. Alternatively, you can request the ballot for specific elections within that period.

To continue receiving a vote-by-mail ballot after the initial period, you must renew your request.

If a vote-by-mail ballot is returned as undeliverable during any election, the existing request will be canceled. If the voter wishes to request another ballot, they must provide or confirm their current residential address first.

If a ballot is lost or damaged (e.g., not yet arrived or way overdue, ballot materials are wet, etc.), voters can request another ballot.

Who can request a vote-by-mail ballot

These are the people who can request a ballot for a voter:

• A voter; a voter’s immediate family member (e.g., voter’s spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling); a voter’s spouse’s parent; the voter’s legal guardian, or a designee for a voter with a disability.

If a request is made on behalf of the voter, this additional information is required:

• The requestor’s address; the requestor’s driver license number, state identification card, or the last four digits of the elector’s social security number (if available); the requestor’s relationship to the voter, and the requestor’s signature (if the request is written).

Deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot

• A completed ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections’ office by 7:00 p.m. (local time) on Election Day, regardless of postmark. However, there is a 10-day extension for overseas voters in Presidential Preference Primary and General Elections, as long as the ballot is postmarked or dated by Election Day. Any ballots received after these deadlines will not be counted. The United States Postal Service (USPS) advises domestic nonmilitary voters to mail their completed ballots at least one week before Election Day to allow for any unexpected delays or weather issues.
  

How and where to return a vote-by-mail ballot

You can return a vote-by-mail ballot by mailing it or delivering it in person. If mailing, you can use the USPS or another private or commercial carrier, if it is received by the specified deadline.

A vote-by-mail ballot cannot be returned online, by fax, or by email, with one exception. Overseas voters, both civilian and military, can return their ballots by mail or fax.

RELATED: A step-by-step guide on how to register to vote in 2024

How to track your vote-by-mail ballot request and returned ballot

Voters who send a vote-by-mail ballot can monitor its status online via the county Supervisor of Elections’ website or through the county-specific link provided on their Vote-by-Mail Ballot Information and Status Lookup webpage.

Additionally, the USPS offers a free service called Informed Delivery (this requires registering with the USPS ) that allows voters to preview a digital image of the address side of certain mail pieces, (including a requested vote-by-mail ballot) before it arrives at their mailing address.

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.