Vote-by-Mail Information

A Vote-by-Mail ballot (formerly known as an absentee ballot) enables a voter to vote from the comfort of their home. Voting has never been easier! 

 Any registered voter may request a Vote-by-Mail ballot.

  • Vote-by-Mail ballot requests do expire. Requests made before November 8, 2022 have expired. 
  • Vote-by-Mail ballot requests made after the November 2022 General Election for all elections will cover all elections through the end of 2024.
  • Vote-by-Mail requests must be renewed every two years.

NOTE: No person may distribute, order, request, collect, deliver, or possess more than two Vote-by-Mail ballots per election other than their own ballot or ballots belonging to immediate family members.*

 *Immediate family is defined as:

  • the voter's or designee's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.
  • the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the voter's or designee's spouse.
  • the voter's legal guardian. 

Requesting a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

The voter, the voter's immediate family*, or the voter's legal guardian are authorized to make a request in one of the following ways:

1. Complete an Online Request

2. Print and complete a Mail Ballot Request Form:
    Vote-by-Mail Request Form (English)
    Vote-by-Mail Request Form (Spanish)

  • Mail to: Lake County Supervisor of Elections, P.O. Box 457, Tavares, FL 32778

3. Call (352-343-9734), email (mailballots@lakevotes.gov), or fax (352-253-1422) the following voter information:

  • Voter's name
  • Voter's Lake County address
  • Voter's mailing address (if different from the residential address)
  • Voter's date of birth
  • Voter's Florida driver license number, Florida ID card number, or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number
  •  If you are making a request on behalf of a voter as the voter's immediate family* or legal guardian, you will also be required to provide your name, phone number, address, your relationship to the voter, and either your Florida driver license, Florida ID card number or the last four digits of your Social Secruity number (if available).

4. In person at the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office, located at 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd. Tavares, FL 32778. You will need to complete a Vote-by-Mail Request Form and present a valid photo ID that has your signature.

NOTE: 

  • The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot to be mailed is 5:00pm on the 12th day before the election, and the deadline to pick up a Vote-by-Mail ballot is close of business on the 11th day before the election, unless there is an emergency that will keep the voter from going to Early Voting or his/her assigned polling place on Election Day. To receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot during the emergency period, the voter or designee must execute an affidavit at the Supervisor of Elections' office showing justification for a ballot to be delivered.
  • Vote-by-Mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7:00pm on Election Day. Overseas voters have until 10 days after the election to return their ballots for any presidential preference primary or general election if it is postmarked or dated on or before the date of the election.

Designating Someone to Pick up a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

Per Florida Statute 101.62(3)(d)(4), any voter can designate someone to pick up a Vote-by-Mail ballot on their behalf. This designation must be done in writing and contain the voter's signature, which must match the voter's signature on their voter file. Voters may submit a voter registration application to update their signature.

The designee shall:

  • provide the written authorization from the voter.
  • provide picture identification of the designee.
  • complete an affidavit.

Voting for Military and Overseas Voters

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires states to deliver requested Vote-by-Mail ballots to military and overseas voters no later than 45 days before a federal election. This includes:

  • Active duty members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marines and their eligible family members
  • U.S. citizens living outside the country

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so from anywhere in the world. To learn more about the FVAP program, download necessary forms, or view the online Voting Assistance Guide, visit FVAP.gov.

Tracking Vote-by-Mail Ballot Requests & Returned Ballots 

Voters who request a Vote-by-Mail ballot can track the status of their ballot by using BallotTrax.

To learn more, view our info bulletin by selecting this link: BallotTrax Information

BallotTrax is a notification system that will notify you when:

  • your ballot is mailed to you.
  • your ballot is received by our office.
  • there is an issue with your signature on your envelope.

To register for BallotTrax notifications, click HERE or call (352) 343-3734

Voters may also track the status of their ballots using the Voter Information Lookup Tool.

Returning a Vote-by-Mail Ballot 

Our office must receive your ballot no later than 7:00pm on Election Day. Once you've completed your ballot you may return it by one of the following methods:

  • at our office--Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.
  • at a secure drop box at any Early Voting location during Early Voting hours (10:00am-6:00pm). For a listing of Early Voting dates, times, and locations click here.
  • at any U.S. Post Office mailbox. Please allow a minimum of 7-10 days for postal delivery to our office.

If you received your ballot by email, you can find additional return information by visting the links below:
    Overseas Military & Civilian Voters
    Absent Stateside Military Voters

NOTE: Overseas voters may return their ballots via fax to (352) 253-1422.

Curing a Missing or Mismatched Signature on a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

If a voter forgets to sign the return envelope or provides a signature on his/her return envelope that does not match signature examples on file with the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office, he or she may cure the discrepancy by completing and returning a Vote-by-Mail Cure Affidavit English/Spanish. The deadline to submit the Cure Affidavit and proof of identification is no later than 5:00pm the 2nd day after the election. Failure to follow the Cure Affidavit instructions carefully may cause his/her ballot not to be counted.

Vote-by-Mail Data Requests

Per F.S. 101.62(2), vote-by-mail request information is confidential and exempt from public record disclosure except to the following person or entities who may obtain and use the information for political purposes only:

  • A Registered Political Committee
  • A Political Party or Official Thereof
  • An Election Official
  • A Candidate who has filed Qualification Papers and is opposed in an upcoming election

Vote-by-Mail data requests must be placed using the Vote-by-Mail Data Request Form. Be sure to complete all information, mark the applicable boxes, and sign before submitting the request. Vote-by-Mail Data Request Forms may be returned with your payment in person at 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778 or by mail to Lake County Supervisor of Elections, P.O. Box 457, Tavares, FL 32778.

 

 

 


 

CALL US:

352-343-9734 |

FAX:

352-343-3605 |

EMAIL:

Contact Us



OFFICE LOCATION:

1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL, 32778 | Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM



MAILING ADDRESS:

P/O. Box 457, Tavares, FL 32778

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