Fax: 850-229-8975 e-mail: gulfsoe@votegulf.gov Mlg: 401 Long Avenue, Port St Joe, FL 32456
If you are a qualified registered Florida voter, you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot.
If you have moved your legal residence to another county in Florida, you cannot request an absentee ballot from Gulf Co. as the law requires that you vote in the precinct where you live. You should do an address change to your new jurisdiction.
One request will allow a voter to receive absentee ballots for the year's election cycle unless the requester specifies only a specifice election when making the request. Please remember that all absentee ballots must be in the Supervisor of Elections office by 7:00 p.m. electon day in order for the ballot to be counted. Such request may be considered canceled when any first-class mail sent by the supervisor to the elector is returned as undeliverable. Absentee ballots cannot be forwarded so it is important that the voter provides the elections office with a correct mailing address. Also, to avoid a possible rejection of your absentee ballot by the canvassing committee, make sure that your current signature matches the signature we have on file. You can update your signature at any time by completing a voter registration application.
The supervisor may accept a request for an absentee ballot from an elector in person, in writing, by e-mail, fax or by telephone. The voter may directly instruct an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or sibling of the voter or of the voter's spouse) or legal guardian to request an absentee ballot on their behalf. The person making the request must provide the following information:
- The name for whom the ballot is requested
- The voter's address
- The voter's date of birth
If the voter has designated an immediate family member or legal guardian to request an absentee ballot for himself or herself, that designee must provide the above information in addition to the following:
- The requester's name,
- The requester's address,
- The requester's driver's license number
- The requester's relationship to the voter for whom the request is made
- If requesting in person, a signature must be provided
A request for an absentee ballot that is to be mailed must be received by the supervisor no later that 5 p.m. on the 6th day prior to the election. The supervisor shall mail the ballot no later then four (4) days prior to the election.(HB 1567) Absentee ballots will be mailed as soon as they are received from the printer, approximately 20-30 days prior to the election, to those electors who have requested an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots cannot be forwarded. Be sure the elections office has your correct mailing address.
Pursuant to Florida law, a designee may only pick up an absentee ballot for an elector on Election Day or up to five (5) days prior to an election. The absentee voter may designate in writing another person to obtain the ballot for them. The designee may only pick up two (2) absentee ballots per election other than their own or a member's of their immediate family. All required information must be furnished and the designee must provide picture identification and complete an affidavit.
The voter must follow the instructions for signing the absentee ballot which are included with the ballot. The ballot shall be rejected as illegal if all information is not conformed with.
Voted absentee ballots must be received into the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. ET election day. An absentee ballot may be returned to the supervisor of elections by the voter, designee of the voter, or by mail. A voted absentee ballot cannot be accepted at a polling place for tabulating.
Pursuant to Florida law, a qualified voter may vote in person at the Supervisor of Elections Office prior to an election. Early voting is available at least 10 days prior to the election and will end 3 days prior to the election. There is no voting on the Monday preceding the election. The voter must present picture identification when voting in person and complete an In-Office Voter Certificate. If proper identification is not provided, the voter must vote a provisional ballot. The office is open Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Federal portions of general election and presidential preference primary ballots voted by persons outside the U.S. are counted if postmarked or signed & dated no later than election day and received within 10 days of the election.
Military Information
Military personnel may apply for voter registration or request absentee ballots with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which may be obtained from the Unit Voting Officer. If the FPCA is not available, phone or send a written request to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
NOTE: Spouses and dependents are considered to be of the same category of absentee voter as military members and generally should follow the same rules.
U.S. Embassies and Consulates can assist in completing, witnessing, notarizing and mailing FPCA forms, absentee ballots and other election materials. Additional military election information is available from:
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Pentagon, Room 1-B457 Washington, D.C. 20301