Guidelines For Making Sure Your Absentee Ballot is Counted
(updated October 21, 2009)

Requesting an absentee ballot
Marking an absentee ballot
Returning an absentee ballot

Requesting an absentee ballot

Your absentee ballot will be sent to the mailing address on file with the Department of Elections unless you are:

• Out of the county and will not return before the election;
• In the military;
• Overseas;
• In a hospital, assisted living facility, nursing home, short-term medical or rehabilitation facility, or correctional facility;
• Unable to occupy your home due to an emergency or natural disaster.

Absentee ballots cannot be forwarded unless you are in the military or reside overseas.  To ensure receipt of your absentee ballot, be sure to provide your current mailing address.  If you are requesting a ballot for more than one election and will be at different locations, be sure to indicate which address to use for each election.

Please request your absentee ballot early to allow time for processing and mailing.

• An absentee ballot request must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the sixth day before the election by the Supervisor of Elections.
• The Supervisor of Elections shall mail absentee ballots to voters no later than 4 days before the election.

For more information, see Florida Statute 101.62(4)(b).

 Marking an absentee ballot

• Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.  
• You must mark your own ballot unless you require assistance to vote because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
• Voters who require assistance may have a person of his or her choice, other than the elector's employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of the elector's union, mark the elector's choices or assist the elector in marking his or her choices on the ballot. (Florida Statute 101.661)
• Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for a race as indicated on the ballot.  If the ballot indicates “Vote For One” in any race, mark only one candidate or answer for that race.  If you vote for more than one, your vote in that race will not be counted.
• If you make a mistake on your ballot, please call the Department of Elections for further instructions.

Returning an absentee ballot

• You cannot drop off your completed absentee ballot at the polls on election day.  Absentee ballots can only be accepted at the Supervisor of Elections office or dropped off at an early voting site when in operation.

• If you decide to vote at the polls after already receiving and absentee ballot, take your absentee ballot with you so that it may be cancelled. You may then vote a ballot in person at the polls. If you do not bring your absentee ballot with you and the status of your absentee ballot cannot be determined, you may be issued a Provisional Ballot (Florida Statute 101.69).

• Mail or hand deliver the completed absentee ballot to the Volusia County Department of Elections or to one of our early voting sites in operation prior to Election Day.  If mailed, make sure there is sufficient postage and you have planned enough time for the ballot to be received by the Department of Elections no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. 

• Place your ballot in the secrecy sleeve, then place inside of the return mailing envelope provided.

• Do not put more than one ballot in an envelope.

• Be sure to completely fill out the Voter's Certificate on the back of the return mailing envelope and sign where indicated.

• If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date you signed the Voter's Certificate on the line above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted.

• Absentee Ballots must be received at the Volusia County Department of Elections by  7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Under no circumstances will a completed absentee be accepted for counting at a polling location on Election Day.

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