Florida Voting by Obama Campaign Part 2 of 3: Voting by Mail

PART 2 IN A SERIES: VOTING BY MAIL IN FLORIDA

Voting by Mail: The Basics
ANY REGISTERED VOTER CAN VOTE BY MAIL! If a voter is not already registered to vote, they must do so before requesting a ballot to vote by mail. Voting by mail is a great way to get our votes in early, to make sure they are counted, and provides an opportunity for those away from home on Election Day to vote.
DEADLINES: Legally, the Supervisor of Elections for your county must receive requests for a ballot no later than 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 29. For our purposes, we are urging all voters to turn in applications by Friday, October 24. Voted ballots must be returned no later than 7:00 PM on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 4.

How to Get a Ballot:
How to request a ballot to vote by mail? A voter can request a ballot from their county’s Supervisor of Elections in person, by mail, over the phone, email, or in some cases through the county’s Supervisor of Elections website. To request a ballot, the required information is:
Name
Address (including zip code) where you live
Address (including zip code) where the ballot should be mailed to you
Date of birth
Florida drivers’ license number (if you have one)
Signature
In addition, providing a telephone number is not required, but is helpful in case any questions arise.
Can the voter request a ballot for a family member? YES! You may request a ballot for an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, or person for whom you are a legal guardian). The request can be made by phone, by mail, in person, email or in some cases through your county Supervisor of Elections website. They must provide the name, address, date of birth, and drivers’ license number (if they have one) both for the person requesting the ballot and for the person the ballot is for.
Can the campaign help request a ballot? YES! The campaign may provide voters with ballot request forms, and may return completed forms to the Supervisor of Elections. But the voter must fill out the information on the form himself or herself.

How to Vote Your Ballot:
How do you vote the ballot? Follow the instructions for marking the ballot to cast your vote. After marking the ballot, place it inside the secrecy envelope, and place the sealed secrecy envelope inside the larger mailing envelope. Be sure to fill out, sign, and date the “Voter’s Certificate” on the back of the mailing envelope. Then mail or deliver the sealed envelope to the address provided.
Can someone else deliver completed absentee ballots? YES! A person may deliver completed ballots to election officials on behalf of one or more voters. However, each voter must complete the ballot and sign the “voter’s certificate” for his or her own ballot.
Can a voter still vote in person instead? If a voter has already voted by mail, he or she cannot also vote in person. If they have NOT voted their ballot, they may still vote in person. However, after a voter has received a ballot to vote by mail, we are strongly encouraging them to vote with that ballot. If they decide to vote in person (either on Election Day or at an early voting location), they must remember to bring the un-marked mail ballot, and turn it in to the election officials. If the voter cannot find their ballot, they can still vote in person, but there is an increased chance of complications.