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VOTE BY MAIL
VOTE BY MAIL: A Few Tips
If you are using Vote By Mail for the first time, here are a few tips to make sure your ballot is counted. If there are differences between counties, they are noted and you are directed to your Supervisor of Elections for more details.
Lake County Status
Marion County Status
Sumter County Status
Sent - the Supervisor of Elections has mailed your ballot
Received - your ballot was received, your signature verified, and the ballot processed.
"Processed" means the ballot was entered into the tabulator.
The Supervisor of Elections knows how many ballots were entered, but the votes are not tabulated until election day.
This is the same process used for Early Voting ballots.
If there were problems with your ballot, it will not be in a Received status, and
you will be contacted using the phone or email on your return envelope.
If you did not provide contact information, you will be notified of any issues through the mail.
Counted - Results from VBM ballots are counted for each candidate on Election Day.
More details about Vote-By-Mail are available at the Florida Division of Elections website.
If you are using Vote By Mail for the first time, here are a few tips to make sure your ballot is counted. If there are differences between counties, they are noted and you are directed to your Supervisor of Elections for more details.
Lake County Status
Marion County Status
Sumter County Status
- Request your ballot. Vote By Mail requests do expire after two general election cycles. You can check whether your request is still active and/or submit a new request with your county's Supervisor of Elections (SOE.) You may renew your request by contacting your SOE by phone or in person. You may complete form DS-DE 160
- Fill out your ballot correctly. Fill in the oval completely using a black pen. Do not use a checkmark or circle the name. Do not use blue ink or a pencil.
- Only one ballot per envelope: Do not try to save on postage by putting two ballots in the same envelope. If you do this, neither will be counted.
- Use the right envelope. Your name is printed on the envelope. If two people in your household are voting by mail, make sure you sign the one with your name. If you misplace your envelope, request a new one.
- Signature. Write your signature on the outer envelope, where indicated, using a black pen. Do not scribble. Do not print your name. Your ballot will be discarded if your signature does not match the document you submitted to request your mail-in ballot or the signature on your driver's license, if you requested your ballot online or by phone. If your signature has changed, go to your Supervisor of Elections office and provide a new one.
- Contact Information. Write your email address and/or phone number on the envelop, if it is requested. This allows the Supervisor of Elections to contact you more quickly if there are any issues with your ballot.
- Mail your ballot. Do not procrastinate. The earlier you mail your ballot, the less likely you will miss the deadline. Affixing a stamp will speed up delivery of your ballot. NOTE: Sumter County does not provide pre-paid postage. Sumter County residents MUST affix their own stamp.
- Drop off your ballot. If you think you've waited too long to mail your ballot, VBM ballots may be returned at secure drop boxes at your SOE's main and branch offices as well as at the early voting sites in your county. Ballots must be dropped off during early voting hours for your county. You may not use a drop box on Election Day. However, you may go to your polling place and vote in person. To speed up the process, take your Vote By Mail ballot with you. Find the Early Voting hours and sites on your Supervisor of Elections website.
- Track your ballot. You can check the status of your Vote By Mail ballot on your county's Supervisor of Elections website. Here is what the status means
Sent - the Supervisor of Elections has mailed your ballot
Received - your ballot was received, your signature verified, and the ballot processed.
"Processed" means the ballot was entered into the tabulator.
The Supervisor of Elections knows how many ballots were entered, but the votes are not tabulated until election day.
This is the same process used for Early Voting ballots.
If there were problems with your ballot, it will not be in a Received status, and
you will be contacted using the phone or email on your return envelope.
If you did not provide contact information, you will be notified of any issues through the mail.
Counted - Results from VBM ballots are counted for each candidate on Election Day.
- Resolve issues with your signature. If your ballot was not counted because of issues with your signature, you have until 5 p.m. on the second day after the election to sign the official Vote-By-Mail Cure Affidavit to remedy the problem.
More details about Vote-By-Mail are available at the Florida Division of Elections website.
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SPREAD THE WORD TO FRIENDS & FAMILY LIVING ABROAD
If someone you know is living outside the country, let them know they can still vote. The federal government has online assistance for any U.S. citizen living abroad regardless of their circumstances. Encourage them to vote by sending the link to this helpful site: https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/overview |
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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government.
The information on this page is part of our efforts to educate citizens. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. |