Absentee Ballot and Early Voting Instructions

Who Can Vote an Absentee Ballot?
If you are a qualified registered Broward County voter, you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot.

Requesting an Absentee Ballot
One request shall be deemed sufficient to receive an absentee ballot for all elections through the next regularly scheduled 2014 General Election unless the elector or the elector's designee indicates, at the time the request is made, the elections for which the electors desire to receive an absentee ballot. The request can be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or fill out a request form now. Only the voter or a designated member of his or her immediate family or legal guardian can request an absentee ballot for the voter. Immediate family means the voter's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the voter or of the voter's spouse. Requests must be received by the sixth day prior to the election. A request from the voter must include the following information:

· The name of the voter for whom the ballot is requested

· The voter's address

· The voter's date of birth

· The voter's signature (written request only)

If the voter has designated an immediate family member or legal guardian to request an absentee ballot for him 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, if available

· The requester's relationship to voter

· The requester's signature (written request only)

Obtaining an Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots are mailed no later than 45 days prior to each election for overseas voters. For all other absentee voters who have requested ballots they will be mailed between 35 and 28 days before an election. Absentee ballots cannot be forwarded, but may be mailed to any location the voter chooses. Be sure the Elections office has your correct mailing address.

A qualified absentee voter may designate in writing another person to pick up an absentee ballot for the voter. Pick up ballots are available, by prior request, to a designee on Election Day or up to five (5) days prior to the day of the election. Ballot pickup is at the Voting Equipment Center in Lauderhill. The designee may only pick up two (2) absentee ballots per election other than his or her own, except for ballots picked up for members of his or her immediate family. The designee must provide a written authorization from the voter and complete an affidavit. A designee must present picture identification in order to pick up any absentee ballot.

Voting an Absentee Ballot
The voter must personally vote the ballot (unless assistance is required due to blindness, disability or inability to read or write). The voter must sign the return envelope.

Returning an Absentee Ballot
If a voter cannot mail or personally return his or her absentee ballot, someone else may return it.

If you decide to vote by mail using an absentee ballot, please consider the following:

*Do not allow anyone to assist you in voting unless it is a family member or trusted family friend.

*Do not allow anyone else to fill out your ballot and remember to sign the voter certificate after you seal the envelope.

*Do not give your ballot to a stranger - mail it yourself and make sure it is received by the elections office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day or deliver it yourself.

Voted absentee ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Election's office no later than 7p.m. on Election Day. A VOTED BALLOT CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT A POLLING PLACE.

If you requested an absentee ballot and later decide to VOTE AT THE POLLS, take your absentee ballot with you to be cancelled at your polling place.

Early Voting

A new law passed by the Florida Legislator, and signed by Gov. Rick Scott, has been implemented for early voting throughout the state. Early Voting is defined as "casting a ballot prior to Election Day at a location designated by the supervisor of elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system."

Under the new provisions, all supervisors will begin conducting early voting in their main and branch offices 10 days before the election. In addition, supervisors may designate any city hall or public library as an early voting site; however, if so designated, these sites must be geographically located so that all voters in the county have an equal opportunity to cast a vote. Early voting will be conducted on the first Saturday, on the tenth day before the election, and continues until the next Saturday before election day for a total of 8 days. Early voting will be provided for eight hours per day during the August Primary. Twelve hours per day of early voting will be offered during the General Election in November 2012.

Voters who want to vote early should remember to bring a photo and signature identification with them.