A voter can pick up their own vote-by-mail ballot at any time once the ballot becomes available. You can have a person request and return a vote-by-mail ballot for you. That person is your designee. The designee can pick up the ballot no earlier than 9 days before Election Day until the day before the election. A designee is limited to picking up vote-by-mail ballots for two other voters per election (not including their own ballot and the ballots for immediate family members). An immediate family member refers to the designee's spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the designee or of the designee's spouse.
The designee must submit an affidavit to pick-up the voter’s blank ballot. Form DS-DE 37 (English) (Español) (Kreyòl) is a combination form that includes the affidavit for ballot pick-up, the written authorization for the designee and if a request is not already on record, the voter’s request for a vote-by-mail ballot.
The designee completes the form and the voter provides a written request containing specific information. The picture ID, the form, and the voter's written request must be presented when requesting or returning the vote-by-mail ballot.
If a voter or designee waits until Election Day to pick up or have delivered a vote-by-mail ballot, the Election Day Vote-by-Mail Ballot Delivery Affidavit (DS-DE 136 - English PDF / Español PDF) must also be completed. The voter must affirm that an emergency exists that keeps the voter from being able to vote at his or her assigned polling place.
Voting a Vote-By-Mail Ballot
Instructions are included with the vote-by-mail ballot. Florida does not have a witness requirement to complete a ballot certificate.
Returning a Vote-By-Mail Ballot
A vote-by-mail ballot can be returned by mail or delivered in person. If returned by mail, it can be returned by the United States postal service or through another private or commercial carrier as long as the ballot is received by the requisite deadline.
A vote-by-mail ballot cannot be returned online, by fax, by email or by fax with one exception. Overseas voters (civilian and military) have the option to return their ballot by mail or by fax. Please visit the webpage Military and Overseas Voters for more information.
Vote-by-mail ballots may also be deposited into secure drop boxes at Supervisors of Elections' main and branch offices (115 S. Andrews Ave, Room 102, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301, or 1501 NW 40th Ave, Lauderhill, FL 33313) until 7:00pm (local time) on Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots may also be deposited at secure drop boxes at designated early voting sites.
Tracking your Vote-By-Mail Ballot Request
Any voter who has requested a Vote-By-Mail ballot can track his/her status online through a link on www.browardvotes.gov, and click on “Check Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot Status”