Voting by mail has long been the method of choice and necessity for out-of-state college students and military service members serving overseas.

For those wanting to send in their vote by mail — which is an option open to all registered voters in Florida — here are answers to some of the most pressing questions you may have.

How do you request a vote-by-mail ballot?

Vote-by-mail requests must be made to the county Supervisor of Elections in the voter’s county of registration. Visit the Florida Department of State’s supervisor of elections page to find yours.

According to the Florida Department of State, a vote-by mail ballot request can be made online, in person or by phone. 

For members of the military or U.S. citizens who currently live outside the United States, the Federal Voting Assistance Program can be used to request a vote-by-mail ballot for federal elections. 

The Federal Post Card Application for a vote-by-mail ballot is available to:

An active duty member (and/or their eligible spouse or family member) of the Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A citizen living outside the U.S. 

Who can request a vote-by-mail ballot?

According to information from the state, the following people can request a vote-by-mail ballot:

The voter
A voter’s immediate family member (their spouse, parent, children, siblings, grandparent, grandchild, etc.)
The voter’s legal guardian
A designee for a voter with a disability

If a request is being made on behalf of a voter, the following information is also 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
The requestor’s signature (if the request is written)

What information is needed for a vote-by-mail ballot request?

All requests must include:

The voter’s name, date of birth and address (a signed written request is required if the address is different than the address on file, unless the request is for an “absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot)
A Florida driver license, Florida identification card or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number
The voter’s signature (if the request is written)

Note: A Statewide Vote-By-Mail Ballot Request Form (DS-DE 160) is required if the request is written.

What is the deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot?

A ballot request must be made no later than 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election — Aug. 6 for this year’s primary and Oct. 22 for the general election. Supervisors of elections are required to mail the ballot within two business days of a request, but no later than the 10th day before the election.

Who can pick up a vote-by-mail ballot?

According to the Florida Department of State, a voter can pick up their own vote-by-mail ballot “at any time once ballots for requests already on file have been mailed, including Election Day.”

A voter can also designate someone to pick up their ballot for them by filling out Form DS-DE 162.

Note: A designee can only legally pick up vote-by-mail ballots for two other voters per election (not including their own ballot and ballots for immediate family members).

How do I request another ballot?

If a ballot is lost or damaged, a voter can request another ballot by contacting their Supervisor of Elections Office.

What is the deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot?

A vote-by-mail ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of when it was postmarked. There is a 10-day extension available for overseas voters for presidential preference primaries and general elections, as long as the ballot is postmarked by Election Day. If not submitted under this extension, ballots received after 7 p.m. on Election Day will not be counted.

When should I put my ballot in the mail to make sure it arrives on time?

The United States Postal Service recommends that domestic, nonmilitary voters mail their completed ballot at least one week before Election Day to allow for any unforeseen delays.

For overseas voters and members of the military, the following timelines are recommended to make sure ballots are received on time:

Anyone at sea, or in another overseas location where there is no access to the military postal system, should mail their ballot no later than 35 days before the election
Individuals at an overseas military installation with access to the military postal system should mail their ballot no later than 30 days before the election
Stateside Uniformed Service members and/or their eligible family members should mail their ballot no later than 11 days before the election

Where can a vote-by-mail ballot be returned?

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail or delivered in person. 

Those returning their ballot by mail can use the U.S. Postal Service, or a private or commercial carrier as long as it is received by the deadline for that election.

Vote-by-mail ballots may be deposited in secure drop boxes set up at Supervisor of Elections offices until 7 p.m. on Election Day. They can also be deposited at secure drop boxes set up at designated early voting locations in the county where the voter is registered.

Overseas voters (both military and civilian) have the option to return their ballot by mail or by fax. To learn more, visit the Florida Department of Elections Military and Overseas Citizens Voting information page.

How can I cure my ballot if it has a missing or mismatched signature?

If a ballot is missing a signature or has one that does not match the signature on file, the Supervisor of Elections office for their county must notify the voter. To correct the issue, the voter must fill out a “Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure” affidavit (Form DS-DE 139) and include a copy of their identification. The form and ID copy can be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office by mail, email, fax or in person. The deadline to submit the form is no later than 5 p.m. (local time) on the second day after the election.

Can I track my ballot request and/or return?

Yes. To track a request or returned ballot online, voters should visit their county’s Supervisor of Elections office website and to use that county’s online tracking tool.

Can I still vote in person if I have requested a vote-by-mail ballot?

Yes. A voter who has changed their mind after requesting a vote-by-mail ballot can still vote in person (early or on Election Day) by bringing in the unmailed ballot (marked or unmarked) to the polling location. If the voter no longer has their vote-by-mail ballot, the Supervisor of Elections office will need to confirm that the ballot has not already been received and counted. 

If a determination cannot be made, the voter will still be able to use a provisional ballot to vote.

If the office finds that the vote-by-mail ballot has already been received, it will be deemed cast and the voter will not be able to cast a vote at the polling place. If the voter believes the determination is wrong, they will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot and the issue will be presented to the canvassing board, which will make the final decision.

How often will I need to request a vote-by-mail ballot?

The request for a vote-by-mail ballot will be in effect for all elections from the date the request was submitted through the end of the calendar year for the next regularly scheduled general election.

After that time, the voter will need to submit another vote-by-mail ballot request if they want to receive a ballot in the mail for the next election.

Note: If a requested vote-by-mail ballot is returned as undeliverable during any election, the request on record will be canceled. If the voter wishes to make another vote-by-mail ballot request, they will have to confirm their current residential address before a ballot will be issued.