2024 General Election: Important Return Dates
In Georgia, absentee ballots must be received by 7:00 pm on November 5th, by the close of polls, whether returned by mail or in person.
Vote-by-Mail (absentee voting) is available in Florida and no excuse is required. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot from your local Supervisor of Elections is no later than 5:00 pm, 12 days before the election. Your voted ballot must be mailed or delivered in person to your local Supervisor of Elections’ office no later than 7:00 pm on the day of the election.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ABSENTEE?
In Florida, all registered voters are permitted to vote-by-mail.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You may request a vote-by-mail ballot in person, by mail, email, fax or by phone from your county’s Supervisor of Elections.
If you are requesting a vote-by-mail ballot for yourself, you must provide the following information:
If an immediate family member or legal guardian is requesting a vote-by-mail ballot for you, they must provide the above information about you as well as the following:
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 12 days before the election. You may request a vote-by-mail ballot in person, by mail, email, fax or by phone from your county’s Supervisor of Elections.
Note: Voters may pick up a mail ballot in person. If a voter or designee waits until the mandatory Early Voting period or Election Day to pick up a mail ballot in person, the voter must affirm that an emergency exists that keeps them from being able to vote at a polling place by completing an affidavit.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Your voted ballot must be mailed or delivered in person to your local Supervisor of Elections’ office no later than 7:00 pm on the day of the election.
WHEN ARE ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILED OUT TO VOTERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED THEM?
Ballots are mailed approximately five weeks prior to each election or 7 days after the county election office receives an application.
HOW DO I COMPLETE MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
All vote-by-mail ballots contain voting instructions, be sure to follow these instructions to ensure your ballot is counted. You must personally vote your own ballot (unless assistance is required due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write). Each mail ballot packet will contain a ballot, a secrecy sleeve (with instructions), and a pre-addressed voter’s certificate return envelope that must be signed by you.
If you returned your vote-by-mail ballot but forgot to sign the envelope, or if the signature has been flagged for review, your ballot may not count unless you complete and return the Vote-By-Mail Cure Affidavit form with a copy of your identification no later than 5 pm two (2) days after the election. Voters with signature issues are notified by mail, email, and telephone based on the information they have provided.
Your voted ballot must be mailed or delivered in person to your local Supervisor of Elections’ office no later than 7:00 pm on the day of the election.
HOW DO I RETURN MY ABSENTEE BALLOT IN PERSON?
You can drop off your signed, voted ballot at your local Supervisor of Elections’ office during business hours. You can also bring your voted ballot to any early voting location during early voting hours. Another option is to exchange the voted ballot for an in-person ballot at any early voting location or at your assigned polling location on Election Day.
CAN I TRACK MY MAILED ABSENTEE BALLOT AND/OR ABSENTEE APPLICATION?
You can track the status of your ballot by mail application or ballot online here. If you have any issues with your state’s online tracker, please contact your local elections official.
WHAT IF I REQUESTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BUT WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON?
Bring your absentee ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to your polling place to be voided. If you don’t have your ballot or never received it, you will be able to cast a provisional ballot, and your vote will be counted once the county determines it never received an absentee ballot from you.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS AN OVERSEAS OR US MILITARY VOTER?
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your BallotThe deadline to cure (correct) your vote-by-mail (absentee) ballot is by 5pm on November 7, 2024. If your signature is missing or does not match the one on record, the Supervisor of Elections will contact you, and you may complete and return a “Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure” Affidavit (English PDF/ Spanish PDF) along with a copy of your identification to resolve the issue. If you voted a provisional ballot, you have until 5pm on November 7, 2024, to present a signed affidavit and identification forms to support your eligibility to vote.
You can track the status of your vote-by-mail ballot using your county’s online tool.
Have you ever wondered who is donating to the candidates on your ballot? You can find campaign finance reports for your federal candidates (US House & US Senate candidates) on OpenSecrets.org.
For your statewide and state legislative candidates, you can visit your state's campaign finance resource.
When an election is coming up in your state, the League of Women Voters will publish a voter guide on VOTE411.org. If you enter your address and don't see your candidates yet, please check back closer to Election Day to see them published online.
If you see a candidate listed on VOTE411 who has not yet filled out the candidate questions, please reach out to them, asking them to fill out the VOTE411 voter guide! The more candidates who fill it out the more helpful it is for voters in your community.
One great option with the VOTE411 voter guide is that you can print your choices to take with you to vote. The use of mobile phones and tablets are allowed in Florida voting booths, but the law also allows you to bring the printed voter guide with you.
A drop box is a secure, locked structure operated by election officials where voters can deliver their absentee ballot. In Florida, ballot drop boxes (Secure Ballot Intake Stations) are available only during Early Voting hours.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted and may be returned by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) or to a Secure Ballot Intake Station located at each early voting location and the Supervisor of Elections office.
Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be accepted at any Election Day voting location. However, you can surrender your mail ballot and vote in person if you choose.
Please contact your county election officials for more information.
Early in-person voting in Florida starts at least 10 days before the election and cannot end prior to the 3rd day before Election Day. Specific early voting dates and times in your county are determined by your local Supervisor of Elections. Early voting will end the weekend before the election. There is no early voting the day before Election Day.
All supervisors will hold early voting in their main and branch offices and may designate additional early voting sites. Check-in with your county election officials for more information.
If there is an upcoming election in your area, it will be listed in the dark blue box at the top of this page (scroll up) or by clicking on https://www.vote411.org/Florida.
To be eligible to vote, you must be:
Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens:
A person who has been convicted of a felony is not eligible to vote in Florida unless they have had their right to vote restored after completing their entire sentence. This includes incarceration, parole and/or probation, and payment of all fines, fees, costs, and restitution. Once their right to vote has been restored, they can register to vote. Note: This does not apply to those convicted of murder or a sexual offense. Pretrial detention and misdemeanors do not restrict your voting rights.
For assistance reviewing a person's criminal records to determine what steps need to be taken for that person to vote, please call 407-710-5496 or email canivote@lwvfl.org. The LWVFL can refer you to a pro bono lawyer who may be able to help you.
Voters without traditional residence:
It is not mandatory for citizens to possess a "permanent home" for voter registration. A citizen can provide an alternative description of their residence, even if they are experiencing homelessness, as long as it enables the authorities to identify and assign a voting precinct to them. This precinct assignment ensures that the voter receives the appropriate ballot. The mailing address on their registration form can be a P.O. box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for them.
You must provide your current and valid driver's license number (from your state), an ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number to register. If you have none of these numbers, you must write "NONE" on the voter registration form.
If you register by mail and you are a first-time voter in the State and you have not been issued a Florida driver's license number, Florida I.D. number, or a Social Security number you are required to provide additional identification. To assure that you will not have problems when you go to vote, you should provide a copy of the required identification at the time you mail your voter registration form. If you are voting an absentee ballot, you must provide the proper identification prior to 7 p.m. Election Day or your absentee ballot will not count. The following forms of identification are acceptable if they contain your name and photograph:
Do not send original identification documents to the supervisor of elections.
The following persons are not required to provide the identification required under the previous paragraph:
To vote at the polls, you must provide picture identification that also shows a signature OR picture identification and another form of ID with your signature.
Acceptable forms of ID are:
CAN I USE MY STUDENT ID TO VOTE?
Yes, a student ID is a form of valid voter ID.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A PHOTO ID?
If you do not bring a valid ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot. As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.
Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline
Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.
Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Provisional ballots are counted by noon, 4 days after a General Election.
For key election activity dates leading up to Election Day, click here. For election results reporting dates including recount, if applicable, and certification, click here.
Official ResultsYou are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.
If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Poll workers are essential to a thriving democracy, and each year millions of Americans serve their communities during early in-person voting and on Election Day.
Poll workers usually attend a training held by election officials and then work at polling locations to help the voting process run smoothly through tasks like checking in voters and issuing ballots.
To find out more and apply to be a poll worker, head to WorkElections.org.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW TO APPLY?
To be a poll worker in Florida, you must be a registered or pre-registered voter in the county where you wish to serve.
All poll workers must be able to read and write English.
You must attend the required poll worker training class or classes (based on poll worker position).
Your county election officials may offer training and more general information on becoming a poll worker. Visit your county's resource page.
The polling place hours will be from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource. If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.
Florida is a “closed primary” state. In order to vote in the primary election, voters must be registered with a political party. Unaffiliated or independent voters are not able to participate in the primary.
If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.
You may vote a provisional ballot if you meet specific conditions.
Voters receive a provisional ballot if:
The Provisional Ballot Cure Affidavit must be completed and submitted to the Elections Department along with a copy of your identification by 5.p.m. on the second day after the election. Provisional ballots are counted by noon, 4 days after a General Election and 3 days after a Primary Election.
Note: Voters must cast their provisional ballot in the correct polling place in order for it to be counted. If you are eligible to vote, and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count as long as your signature on the provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.
Each registered voter has a right to ask for and receive assistance in voting. If you are a voter with a disability, you may vote-by-mail if you have a sickness or physical condition that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or injuring your health.
WHAT IF I NEED A HELPER TO VOTE IN-PERSON?
You can still choose to receive help at a polling place. You do not have to reveal the nature or extent of your disability. You may choose anyone as an assistant except your employer, an officer of your union, or an agent of either. You can alternatively get the help of two members of the Supervisor of Elections staff. Unless you noted on your voter registration application that you might need help at the polls, you will have to fill out a form affirming you need help at the polls. The clerk can help you fill out the form. In addition, the person you choose to help you will have to fill out a form (unless that person is election staff) saying they will provide help. If you have any questions about receiving help in voting, please ask the clerk or inspector at the polling place.
WHAT IF I AM PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO MARK MY BALLOT?
If you are physically unable to mark your ballot or cannot read the ballot, you are eligible for assistance.
WHAT IF I NEED AN INTERPRETER?
When a voter requires language assistance at an early voting site or at a polling place, the following is available:
WHAT IF I HAVE VISUAL DISABILITIES?
All Florida counties must provide one direct electronic voting machine (DRE) at each polling place for voters with visual disabilities so that they may cast their ballot without assistance. These machines are equipped with headphones and a keypad.
WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES?
If you have any issue with voting or registering to vote due to a disability, please contact the Disability Rights Florida Voting Hotline: 877-352-7337.
For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.
If you are already registered to vote in Florida and have moved within the state, you do not need to re-register to vote. However, you must update your voter registration record with your county’s Supervisor of Elections. You can update your registration through one of the following ways: online, by paper form, by phone, or by email.
You may also update your voter registration when you update your driver's license online.
WHAT IF I MISSED THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE AFTER I MOVED?
Florida Law requires that you vote in the precinct of your residence. If you are already registered to vote in Florida and have moved within the state, you do not need to re-register to vote. However, you must update your voter registration record with your county’s Supervisor of Elections. You must be registered to vote 29 days before an upcoming election. New voters who miss the deadline may still register at any time to vote in the next election.
You must be registered to vote 29 days before an upcoming election. There is no length of residency requirement before registering to vote in Florida.
Check your voter registration status at online or with your Supervisor of Elections.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER IN FLORIDA?
To register in Florida, you must be:
HOW DO I UPDATE MY REGISTRATION IF I MOVE OR HAVE A NAME CHANGE?
If you are already registered to vote in Florida and have moved within the state, you do not need to re-register to vote. However, you must update your voter registration record with your county’s Supervisor of Elections. You can update your registration through one of the following ways: online, by paper form, by phone, or by email.
For name and party changes, you must update your information online or by using the paper form. Identification is required and any of the following forms will be accepted by your local Supervisor of Elections:
You may also update your voter registration when you update your driver's license online.
I JUST MOVED TO FLORIDA OR MOVED TO A NEW COUNTY IN FLORIDA. HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
If you are already registered to vote in Florida and have moved within the state, you do not need to re-register to vote. However, you must update your voter registration record with your county’s Supervisor of Elections. If you are not already registered to vote in Florida, eligible individuals can register to vote at any time. The deadline to register to participate in an upcoming election is 29 days before the election.You can register one of the following ways:
WHERE SHOULD I VOTE IF I DON’T HAVE A RESIDENCE?
It is not mandatory for citizens to possess a "permanent home" for voter registration. A citizen can provide an alternative description of their residence, even if they are experiencing homelessness, as long as it enables the authorities to identify and assign a voting precinct to them. This precinct assignment ensures that the voter receives the appropriate ballot. The mailing address on their registration form can be a P.O. box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for them.
If you are a student studying at a university in Florida, you can decide on where to register to vote. You can register to vote at whichever address you consider the place that you live, whether that is your family’s home address or where you attend school.
Remember that you can only be registered to vote at one location. Registering to vote in your college community will not affect your Federal Financial Aid, status as a dependent on your parents’ taxes, or tuition status. You can register to vote at any time. However, to vote in a Florida election you must be registered 29 days before that election.
WHAT DO I NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
Here is what you need to know to register in Florida:
Time off to vote is subject to the employer, there is no requirement for employers to grant time off to vote for employees.
To verify your voter registration status
click here!The voting systems used in Florida are optical scan and DRE.
Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil you fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.
Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.
There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.
Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a pages. where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. Some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.
You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.
You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) or through Verified Voting.
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Room 316 RA Gray Building
500 South Bronough St.
Tallahassee 32399-0250
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