Basics of Absentee Voting

As authorized by Florida law, any eligible registered voter in Volusia County has the opportunity to request and vote by absentee ballot. As soon as they become available, absentee ballots are mailed to the address requested by the voter or may be picked up in person at the Supervisor of Elections office. Absentee ballots may also be voted in person in the office of the Supervisor of Elections prior to or after the early voting period.

Who may vote by absentee ballot

Any registered voter in Volusia County, who is in good standing, may vote by absentee ballot in any election for which they are qualified to do so. If you are not a resident of Volusia County, click here to go to the Florida Division of Elections website for links to other counties in Florida.

Who may  request an absentee ballot

A request for an absentee ballot may be made by:

1) The voter for his/ her own ballot
2) Another person from a member of his/her immediate family. (with the permission of the voter)
3) The legal guardian of the person for whom the ballot is being requested. (with the permission of the voter)

Beginning on the fourth day before an election, a voter may designate, in writing, someone (other than a candidate) to pick up his or her ballot at the Office of the Supervisor of Elections. No person may designate to pick up ballots for more than two other persons except immediate family members.

In order to obtain an absentee ballot, you must provide:

• Name of the voter for whom ballot is requested
  Voter’s address

• Address where absentee ballot is to be mailed

• Voter’s date of birth

• Voter’s telephone number (if available)

• Requestor’s name, if other than voter

• Requestor’s relationship to voter

• Requestor’s address, if other than voter

• Requestor’s driver’s license number (if available)

• Requestor’s signature (written requests only)

• Photo and signature identification (requests made in person)

To request an absentee ballot for someone other than yourself, please have available in addition to above:

• Written and signed authorization from the voter specifying a person to pick up the ballot, and if related, the relationship to the voter

• Designee photo and signature identification

How to request an absentee ballot

Telephone
Fax
Letter
E-mail  -  (Exceptions)
In person
Designee ballot pickup
Online interactive request form
Printable Request Form [PDF]

An absentee ballot request is effective for all elections through the next two regularly scheduled general elections.

What to do if you are a member of the uniformed services or a citizen temporarily residing overseas

Members of the uniformed services, citizens residing overseas or members of their family may request absentee ballots with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This form may be obtained from the Voting Assistance Officer or is available on-line. Upon receipt of a federal postcard application for an absentee ballot executed by a person whose registration is in order or whose application is sufficient to register or update the registration of that person, the Supervisor of Elections shall mail to the applicant a ballot, if the ballots are available for mailing.  The FPCA request for an absentee ballot shall be effective for all elections through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. 

The Guidelines for voting by absentee ballot are mandated by the Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) which is governed by the administrators of the Federal Voting  Assistance Program (FVAP).    If the FPCA is not available, use the  Absentee Ballot Request Form [PDF] or one of the methods listed above.

Learn more about Uniformed and Overseas Citizens requesting, voting and returning absentee ballots.

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