Voter Toolkit

Encourage members to make early VBM requests to provide plenty of time to review, complete and return their ballot. The recommendation is to return the mail ballot for it to arrive at their county elections office at least seven to 10 days before the election. This allows for time to verify, on the Supervisor of Elections website or by phone, the arrival and status of the voted ballot. If there’s an error, such as a signature that doesn’t match the one in the member’s voter file, or a change of address, the member would have time to contact the Supervisor of Elections to update their voter file and ensure their vote counts. Do not wait until the final two weeks before the election to request a mail ballot.

It’s extremely convenient and no different than voting in person — except voters complete their ballots in the privacy and safety of their homes. No long lines or long waits, and you can vote from the comfort of home. Members can apply for a mail ballot today. As we move closer to Election Day, the election office will mail a ballot to their home.  Members can request their ballot by calling their county Supervisor of Elections office, mailing a written request or completing the online form on the elections website.  To make the request, you need your name, address, date of birth and your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

Voting by mail has existed in Florida for a long time. We used to call it an “absentee ballot.” In 2016, Florida changed the name to Vote-by-Mail to ease confusion over who can vote by mail. It’s available to all registered voters, and you don’t need an excuse to receive one. It’s a safe and secure way to cast your ballot. Numerous states have been conducting their elections entirely by mail for years.

Yes. All mail ballots are counted in every election. Starting with elections in 2022, state law requires each elections supervisor to provide live voter turnout data, updated at least once every hour. This information must be available on the supervisor’s website and provided to the State Division of Elections.

Any voter who has requested a mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through their county Supervisor of Elections’ website or at MakeAPlantoVote.com/check.

If you haven’t received your ballot a month before Election Day, check your voting status first on the elections website. If you notice any errors, contact your county election office immediately to remedy the problem and request a new ballot.

• For the primary, check your voter status before the July 25 voter registration deadline.
• For the general election, check your voter status before the Oct. 11 voter registration deadline.

Check your voter status to avoid any errors, confusion or mishaps that could impact your vote.

Even if you are a registered voter in Florida but have not cast an election ballot in your county within the past two election cycles, your name could appear on the state inactive voter list.

Florida’s 67 counties use the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to identify and purge ineligible voters from county rolls. State law requires county election supervisors to conduct a voter maintenance program to provide up-to-date individual records by identifying potential voters who are not registered, individuals who have relocated, have changed their name, or died. 

Yes, your vote by mail ballot request is eligible for use during one election cycle, which includes the primary and general elections for that year only. It expires after each general election. Voters will need to request a new mail ballot every year. It can be done by phone, a letter or email, or online on your county Supervisor of Elections website.  To make the request, you will need to provide your name, address, date of birth and your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number.  

You can still vote in person, but you must surrender the mail ballot at your polling site before you vote. When surrendering your mail ballot, you must present your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. The ballot must be cancelled for your vote to count.

If you run into a problem at your polling site, you have the right to request a “provisional” ballot.

What Is a Provisional Ballot?

Provisional ballots are used by the elections office to determine whether a person is legally eligible to vote.  For example, a provisional ballot is used to cure mismatched signatures; it’s required for voters who fail to update their address with the state after relocating.

Using a provisional ballot does not guarantee your vote. If your voter eligibility cannot be confirmed, your ballot will not be validated. To ensure your vote counts, please take a few moments now to check your voter status online.

Reasons for Provisional Voting

• Voter record cannot be located.
• Voter did not bring proper identification to the polls.
• Voter’s eligibility cannot be verified at the precinct.
• Voter’s eligibility has been challenged.
• Voter is at the incorrect precinct.
• Voter may have already voted in the election.