ABSENTEE VOTING (VOTING BY MAIL)
ELIGIBILITY
Anyone registered in Orange County may request an absentee ballot using any of the request methods below. An elector or an elector’s designee can request an absentee ballot for all elections through the end of the calendar year for the second ensuing regularly scheduled general election (including those not yet scheduled at the time of the request).
ELECTOR’S SIGNATURE ON FILE
An absentee ballot will be considered illegal and will NOT be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate is missing or if it does not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the start of the canvass of the absentee ballots is the signature that will be used to verify your signature on the Voter’s Certificate. If you need to update your signature for this election, send your signature update on a voter registration application to our office so that it is received before the beginning of canvassing which can occur no earlier than 7 a.m. the 15th day prior to election day.
A request for an absentee ballot to be mailed must be received no later than 5 p.m. the 6th day (Wednesday) prior to an election.
- Online: You may request an absentee ballot online.
- By Phone: (407) 836-2070
- By Mail: You can download the request form in PDF format and mail it into our office. Request form English or Spanish
You must include: your name, date of birth, residential address and mailing address if different. You must also include your signature if a written request and the elections for which you wish to receive a ballot.
To verify if you already have a request on file please click here.
WHEN TO EXPECT YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT
The initial delivery of absentee ballots for stateside (local) voters will occur 35 to 28 days prior to an election. Initial delivery of absentee ballots for Military and Overseas voters will occur no later than 45 days prior to an election. After the initial mailing of absentee ballots, daily mailings for subsequent requests will be made.
If you have already requested an absentee ballot, please click here to track the status of your ballot.
When instructed by the voter an immediate family member or the legal guardian may make a request for the voter. The request must include the voter's name, date of birth, residential address and mailing address if different and the designee's name, relationship to voter, residential address, phone number (optional). Written requests must also contain the designee's signature.
Requests can be made online, by phone at 407-836-2070. Written requests may be sent via fax to 407-254-6598, via email to voter@ocfelections.com or via mail to PO Box 562001 Orlando, FL, 32856-2001.
HOW TO VOTE YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOTYour absentee ballot will arrive in the mail along with a secrecy envelope, instruction sheet, and a certificate envelope to use to return the ballot to us. Be sure to sign the certificate envelope prior to mailing it back to us. The Canvassing Board will reject your ballot if you forget to sign the certificate envelope.
If you don't want to mail your ballot, you may deliver your completed absentee ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office or to any early voting location. You may NOT return an absentee ballot to a polling place on election day.
The last day to ask to have a ballot mailed to you is the sixth day prior to the election. The deadline to return the ballot is 7 p.m. on election day.
Fax: 407-254-6596