General Voter Information
Voter Registration
You may pre-register
to vote at sixteen.
You may obtain a voter registration application at any of the following
locations:
- The Supervisor of Elections Office
- Local Banks
- Driver's License Offices
- Public Libraries
- Social Service Agencies
- City Halls
- Chamber of Commerce
You may also call the Supervisor of Elections for a site
near you or to have a voter registration form mailed to you.
Once you have completed your voter registration application, mail or deliver
it to the Supervisor of Elections office. A voter identification card will
be mailed to the applicant approximately two to three weeks after the
application is processed.
KEEPING YOUR VOTER RECORD CURRENT
After you are registered to vote, it is important to keep your voter
registration record up to date with your current address, name, and desired
party affiliation. You can update your voter registration record or replace
your defaced, lost, or stolen voter identification card by sending a
written, signed request to the Supervisor of Elections office at the address
shown at the bottom of this page. A new voter identification card will be
mailed to you approximately two to three weeks after your request is
processed.
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, a qualified absentee voter may designate in writing
another person to pick up an absentee ballot for them. The designee may only
pick up two (2) absentee ballots per election other than their own, except
for ballots picked up for members of their immediate family. The designee
must provide picture identification and complete an affidavit.
A qualified absentee voter may vote in person at office of the Supervisor of
Elections during the two weeks prior to an election.
Your voted ballot must be received by 7 p.m. election day at the Supervisor
of Elections Office at 229 SW Pinckney Street Room 113 Madison, Florida
32340. A voted ballot cannot be accepted at a polling place.
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
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Who
can vote by absentee ballot?
Any registered voter who is eligible to vote in an upcoming election may vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to vote at their precinct on election day.
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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
- YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBER
- And the last four digits of YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
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. 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:
- YOUR NAME
- YOUR ADDRESS
- YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBER
- and the last four digits of YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Plus
The designee must show their photo ID and furnish the following information:
- THEIR NAME
- THEIR ADDRESS
- THEIR ENTIRE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
- And THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO YOU.
Failure to provide the required information will prevent
us from fulfilling your absentee ballot request.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Any registered voter who is unable to get to the polls on a permanent basis can register as a permanent absentee voter. Voters who are listed as permanent absentee voters will automatically be mailed a list of the upcoming elections each year. They simply select the elections for which they want to receive absentee ballots and return this form to our office. These voters will then receive an absentee ballot for every election they selected. To become a permanent absentee voter, contact our office at the phone number listed below.