Voting by mail: What you need to know

Action News Jax has everything you need to know about mail-in voting for Florida and Georgia below:

FLORIDA

What is Vote-By-Mail?

A Vote-By-Mail ballot refers to a ballot that you request and pick-up or have delivered to you without having to vote at the polls during early voting or on Election Day. A voter must first be registered to vote before he or she can request a vote-by-mail ballot. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot online, in writing, in person, or over the phone.

Voter Registration Deadline for The General Election: October 5

Register to vote here: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home

Deadline to Request A Ballot

The deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed is no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the election. A Supervisor of Elections must mail the ballot out within 2 business days after a request and the last day for a Supervisor to be able to mail out a ballot is 8 days before the election.

Request a Vote-By-Mail Ballot

Click on your county below, to visit your local Supervisor of Elections Office to request a ballot.

Baker County

Bradford County

Clay County

Columbia County

Duval County

Nassau County

Putnam County

St. Johns County

Union County

Deadline to Submit a Ballot

A returned voted ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections’ office no later than 7 p.m. (local time) on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3). The United States Postal Service recommends that domestic nonmilitary voters, mail back their voted ballots at least 1 week before the Election Day deadline to account for any unforeseen events or weather issues. Vote-by-mail ballots may also be returned at secure drop boxes at Supervisor of Elections’ main and branch offices and early voting sites in your county. Please contact your Supervisor of Elections or visit their website for the location of all vote-by-mail ballot secure drop boxes in the county.

How to Track Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot

Any voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through a link within the Division of Elections’ Voter Information Lookup or through their county Supervisor of Elections’ website.

To read through all the rules for Vote-By Mail visit the Florida Division of Elections

GEORGIA

What are Absentee Ballots?

Absentee ballots are an option for registered voters who may be traveling, outside the country, serving in the military, or otherwise can’t make it to the polls on Election Day. Georgia law allows for absentee by mail ballots to be requested up to 180 days before an election. To request an absentee ballot, voters should complete an absentee ballot application and return it to their county registration office. Absentee ballot applications can be returned by mail, fax, email (as an attachment), or in-person to the local County Board of Registrar’s Office.

Voter Registration Deadline for The General Election: October 5

Register to vote here: https://georgia.gov/register-vote

Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots may be requested any time between 180 days prior to the election and the end of the business day on the Friday before Election Day (October 30, 2020). Please note that you should make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you, voted, and be received back at the county registrar office before the close of polls on Election Day. Ballots will be mailed out no sooner than 45 days prior to the Friday before Election Day (October 30, 2020).

Request an Absentee Ballot

You must submit an application to request a ballot. That can be done through email, mail, fax, or in person at your County Board of Registrar’s Office. Visit the Georgia Secretary of State website, and select the method that works best for you.

Deadline to Submit an Absentee Ballot

A ballot must be received by the county registrar no later than the close of polls on Election Day. Delivery can be either U.S. first class mail or hand delivered by the voter. If mailing, you must affix postage to the ballot envelope. Ballots received after the polls close cannot be counted.

How to Track Your Absentee Ballot

You can verify that your ballot was accepted by visiting the Georgia My Voter Page. Log in and look for the box labeled Absentee Ballot Request Information to find out more about your absentee ballot status.

To read through all the rules for Absentee Ballots visit the Georgia Secretary of State

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