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3 Ways to Vote

1. Vote by Mail (absentee)
2. Vote Early (in person)
3. Vote on Election Day (in person)

1. Vote by Mail (absentee)

Any registered voter may request a ballot to be mailed to them, with no reason needed, either for specific elections or for eligible elections through the next General Election. After the request expires, the request will need to be made again. It is a good idea to check the status of your absentee request on a regular basis. An immediate family member or legal guardian may also request a ballot for another voter, with the voter’s permission.

To request, complete the Online Mail Ballot Request Form, call our office at 850-892-8112, or submit a written Mail Ballot Request Form (English) (Spanish) .

Be sure to provide your current mailing address. The U.S. Post Office cannot forward mail ballots. Voters making a request for a ballot to be mailed to an address not already on record will need to submit a signed Mail Ballot Request Form (English) (Spanish) . The deadline to receive a request is 5:00 pm on the 10^th day before Election Day (However, due to mail delivery times , please request and return your ballot as soon as possible.) For requests already on file, ballots are typically mailed about 33-40 days before Election Day. Some exceptions apply.

A designee can pick up a ballot from our office for another voter within 9 days of and on Election Day. A designee must provide a written authorization from the voter, a picture ID, and a signed affidavit (English) This link will direct you to an external website. / (Spanish) .

Voted Ballots must be returned to the Elections Office by 7:00 pm on Election Day. Mail ballots may also be returned to a secure ballot intake station located inside of an early voting location during the designated early voting hours (see below). Mail ballots cannot be accepted at an Election Day polling place. You can track the status of your request and ballot throughout the process and after the election.

When the ballot is returned, the voter's signature from the ballot envelope is compared to the signature in the voter's record. It is important that mail ballot voters keep their signature on file up-to-date. If you need to update your signature in your record, it must be updated before the mail ballot is returned. If you returned your ballot, but forgot to sign the ballot envelope or your signature does not match the signature in your record, you will be notified and you can complete and return the Vote-by-Mail Ballot Signature Cure Affidavit (English) This link will direct you to an external website. / (Spanish) no later than 5:00 pm on the 2nd day after Election Day. Once mail ballots are accepted for tabulation, they are counted just like any other ballot that is cast, usually prior to Election Day, and are typically included in the first results to be reported on Election Night.

Members of the United States Uniformed Services on active duty and the Merchant Marines, their spouses and dependents, and United States citizens residing outside of the United States have additional options and allowances when it comes to voting by mail, including getting the ballot sooner and by electronic means. For more details, please visit the page below:

Additional Information for UOCAVA voters

2. Vote Early (in person)

Early Voting provides a more convenient alternative to traditional Election Day voting. Early Voting allows you to cast your ballot in person just as you would on Election Day, but at a time, day, or location that may be more convenient. Early Voting occurs in multiple locations throughout the county on the week or so before Election Day in state and federal elections. (Early voting and/or locations, dates, and times may not be available for local and municipal elections.) Remember to bring an acceptable form of photo/signature identification to vote early. Voters without valid ID to vote, or who are otherwise ineligible, have the option to vote a provisional ballot. Please notify the poll worker if you need to update your registration. They will assist you with completing the necessary paperwork to update your record. If you are in line at the polling place when the polls close, you will be permitted to cast a ballot.

For early voting locations, dates, and times, visit the link below:

Early Voting Locations, Dates, & Times

3. Vote on Election Day (in person)

If you choose to cast your ballot on Election Day, you must go to your home precinct’s polling place to do so. On Election Day, the polls open at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. If you are in line at the polling place when the polls close, you will be permitted to cast a ballot.

Remember to bring an acceptable form of photo/signature identification to vote. Voters without valid ID to vote, or who are otherwise ineligible, have the option to vote a provisional ballot.

Please notify the poll worker if you need to update your registration. They will assist you with completing the necessary paperwork to update your record or in determining if you are at the correct polling place.

For upcoming elections and Election Day voting locations, please visit the links below: