absentee ballot
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General Information | Military
Information | Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
If you are a qualified registered voter and are unable to
attend the polls on election day, you are entitled to vote by
absentee ballot. An absentee ballot may be requested for a
specific election or for all elections in an election year. This
can be done in person, by mail, by telephone, or by having
someone bring your written and signed request to the Elections
Office.
Pursuant to Florida law, the supervisor shall give the
ballot to that designee for delivery to the elector. By delivery
to a designee on election day or up to 5 days prior to the day
of an election. Any elector may designate in writing a person to
pick up the ballot for the elector; however, the person
designated may not pick up more than two absentee ballots per
election, other than the designees own ballot, except that
additional ballots may be picked up for members of the designees
immediate family. For purposes of this section, immediate family
means the designees spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or
sibling of the designee or of the designees spouse. The designee
shall provide to the supervisor the written authorization by the
elector and a picture identification of the designee and must
complete an affidavit. The designee shall state in the affidavit
that the designee is authorized by the elector to pick up that
ballot and shall indicate if the elector is a member of the
designees immediate family and, if so, the relationship.
The department shall prescribe the form of the affidavit.
If the supervisor is satisfied that the designee is authorized
to pick up the ballot and that the signature of the elector on
the written authorization matches the signature of the elector
on file, the supervisor shall give the ballot to that designee
for delivery to the elector.
A qualified absentee voter may vote in person at the
office of the Supervisor of Elections, during the designated in
office absentee voting period.
Your voted ballot must be received by 7 p.m. election day at your
nearest Monroe County Supervisor of Elections office. A voted ballot
cannot be accepted at a polling place, unless the voter spoils their
absentee and is issued a precinct ballot to be cast at that precinct.
Federal portions of general election
and presidential preference primary ballots voted by persons
outside the U.S. are counted if postmarked no later than
election day and received within 10 days of the election.
Military Information
Military personnel may apply for voter registration or
request absentee ballots with a Federal Post Card Application
(FPCA) which may be obtained from the Unit Voting Officer. If
the FPCA is not available, phone or send a written request to
the Supervisor of Elections Office.
NOTE: Spouses and dependents are considered to be of the
same category of absentee voter as military members and
generally should follow the same rules.
U.S. Embassies and Consulates can assist in completing,
witnessing, notarizing and mailing FPCA forms, absentee ballots
and other election materials. Additional military election
information is available from:
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Pentagon, Room 1-B457 Washington, D.C. 20301
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can I vote by absentee ballot?
Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot.
- How do I get an absentee ballot?
It is easy to get an absentee ballot. First, a request for
an absentee ballot must be made. A request can be made in
several ways.
A person can request a ballot for his or her own use, either
in person, over the telephone, or by mail. If you are requesting
an absentee ballot for yourself, Florida Statute requires you to
provide:
- YOUR NAME
- YOUR ADDRESS
- BIRTHDAY
- SIGNATURE IF IN WRITTEN REQUEST
Without this specific information, we are unable
to process your absentee ballot request.
Also, any person (except a candidate for
office) that you designate may pick up your absentee
ballot on election day or up to 5 days prior to
the day of an election. If you ask someone to pick
up an absentee ballot for you, there are several
additional requirements.
The person must have a written request
signed by you naming them as your designee to receive
the ballots on your behalf.
The person picking up the ballot must
furnish to us:
- YOUR NAME
- YOUR ADDRESS
- YOUR BIRTHDAY
- YOUR written authorization
Plus
The designee must show their photo ID and
complete an affidavit.
Failure to provide the required information will
prevent us from fulfilling your absentee ballot request.
- How many absentee ballots can someone pick up
and/or witness?
A person may pick up absentee ballots for no more
than two (2) voters in any given election, unless they are
immediate family members in which case there is no set limit.
- When does my absentee ballot need to be voted?
Your completed ballot MUST be received at the SUPERVISOR OF
ELECTIONS OFFICE (not the polling precincts or the post office)
no later than 7:00 pm on the day of the election, or your vote
will not be counted.
- Can I vote before Election Day?
Any registered voter who is eligible to vote in a specific
election is welcome to vote at our office by absentee ballot
before an election during the specially designated in-office
absentee voting period.