Collier County Supervisor of Elections

What is absentee voting?

Absentee voting is a service offered by the Supervisor of Elections for registered voters who do not wish to vote in person on Election Day or in person at Early Voting.

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Who can vote by absentee ballot?

Any registered voter in Collier County may request an absentee ballot.

How do I request an absentee ballot?

You must contact the Supervisor of Elections office to request an absentee ballot. You may contact the elections office:

by clicking the hyperlink above "click here for an Absentee Ballot Request Form" and
completing and submitting the on-line request form.
by mail
in person
by telephone

Only the voter, immediate family member or legal guardian may request an absentee ballot. Immediate family members include:

voter's spouse
voter's grandparent
voter's parent
voter's child
voter's sibling
voter's spouse's grandparent
voter's spouse's parent
voter's spouse's child
voter's spouse's sibling

To request an absentee ballot the voter must provide the following information:

the name of the voter
the voter's date of birth
the voter's Collier County residence address
the address that you will need your ballot mailed to IF different from your residence address (ABSENTEE BALLOTS CANNOT BE FORWARDED BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE)
the voter's signature (written requests only)

If an immediate family member is making the request for the voter, the following information must be provided in addition to the above:

the name of the family member making the request
the relationship of the family member making the request
the address of the family member making the request
the driver's license number of the family member making the request (if available)
the signature of the family member making the request (written requests only)

A qualified absentee voter may designate in writing another person to pick up an absentee ballot for the voter. Pick up ballots are available to a designee beginning four days prior to the day of the election. 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 photo and signature identification, the written authorization from the voter, and complete an affidavit.

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When will I receive my absentee ballot?

Mailing of absentee ballots begins approximately 3 weeks prior to each election to those voters who have requested an absentee ballot.

What is Early Voting?

A qualified voter may vote in person on a touch screen terminal at any of our Early Voting Locations or the Supervisor of Elections Office during the 15 day period prior to an election. The voter must present both photo and signature identification. A Florida Driver License or Identification Card meets those requirements. The voter can use any of the following acceptable forms of identification (§ 101.043, F. S.): 1. Florida driver’s license. 2. Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 3. United States passport. 4. Employee badge or identification. 5. Buyer’s club identification. 6. Debit or credit card. 7. Military identification. 8. Student identification. 9. Retirement center identification. 10. Neighborhood association identification. 11. Public assistance identification.

However, if a person who does not bring in an acceptable form of identification, the person can still vote a provisional ballot. A person who votes a provisional ballot will be given at the time of voting written notice of his or her rights as a provisional ballot voter including:

1. A statement that the provisional ballot voter has until 5 p.m. of the third day to bring to the Supervisor of Elections written evidence of his or her eligibility.

2. A statement that a voter who votes a provisional ballot because he or she did not bring in identification does not need to bring in further evidence of eligibility. If the voter voted in the right precinct and the signature on the provisional ballot certificate matches the signature on the voter registration record, the provisional ballot will be counted.

3. Instructions as to how the provisional ballot voter may find out if his or her provisional ballot was counted, and if not, the reason(s) why.

4. A statement that if this is a primary election, the person should contact the supervisor of elections’ office immediately to confirm that the person is registered and can vote in the general election.

(See section 101.048, Florida Statutes, and Rule 1S-2.037, Florida Administrative Code)

Poll workers are instructed to compare the photo identification to the person appearing to vote. They are also instructed to compare the elector's signature on the photo ID or the voter ID to the signature affixed to the precinct register.

How do I vote my absentee ballot?

The voter must personally vote the ballot (unless assistance is required due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write).

completely blacken in the ovals corresponding to the candidate and/or referendums of your choice
place your completed ballot in the secrecy sleeve
place both the ballot and the secrecy sleeve in the return envelope that came with your ballot
complete the voter's certificate on the envelope. In order for the absentee ballot to be counted, the voter must sign or apply their legal mark to the return envelope.
return your absentee ballot by mail or in person to the Supervisor of Elections Office to be received no later than 7:00 p.m. election day.
a voted ballot cannot be accepted at a polling place or early voting site.

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What if I am in the military?

Military personnel may apply for voter registration and/or request absentee ballots with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) which may be obtained from the Unit Voting Officer or by visiting http://www.fvap.gov. Military personnel may also phone or send a written request to the Supervisor of Elections office, or use the on-line request form. 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, and mailing FPCA forms, absentee ballots, and other election materials. Federal portions of Presidential Preference Primary and General Election ballots voted by persons outside the U.S. are counted if signed no later than Election Day and received within 10 days of the election. Additional military election information is available from:

http://www.fvap.gov
THE DIRECTOR
FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Washington Headquarters Services
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1155
Toll-free 800-438-8683

Absentee Ballots for Overseas Voters

An overseas voter may submit an absentee ballot request by website form, mail, fax, e-mail or telephone. Overseas voters who provide an e-mail address will be sent a list of candidates by e-mail 30 days prior to each election requested. Overseas voters may receive ballots by mail, fax or e-mail. Voted ballots may returned by mail or fax. Ballots may NOT be returned by e-mail.

An email or fax request for an absentee ballot must include:

The name of the voter requesting the ballot;
The voter's date of birth;
The voter's county of legal residence in Florida;
and one of the following:
- If the voter wishes the ballot to be mailed, an APO/FPO or other deliverable overseas address;
- If the voter wishes the ballot to be faxed, a fax number;
- If the voter wishes the ballot to be transmitted via email, the email address.
The voter's signature.

Upon verification of the voter's eligibility, the Supervisor will provide by the method requested by the voter, the appropriate absentee ballot, voter's certificate, instructions for voting, and instructions for returning the ballot and voter's certificate.
Ballots may be returned by mail, or by fax directly to the Absentee Department at 239-252-2630. Ballots may NOT be returned by e-mail.
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Rev. 01/21/08