With the Florida primaries in the rear view mirror, we enter the home stretch to the November 3rd General Election. This year, there is heightened interest in Vote-by-Mail because of the risk the covid-19 pandemic presents to in-person ballot casting.

If you are concerned about your eligibility to vote-by-mail, rest assured. Any Florida resident may vote by mail, no reason required, and may simply request a ballot be sent to one’s home.

To be assured of voting and having your vote counting, follow these 3 tips:

1. Request your ballot early (call or go online, details below)
2. Complete your ballot early!
3. Return your ballot early! (It must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7pm on voting day. The earlier the better.)

COMPLETE DETAILS BELOW

Vote-by-Mail 

1. What is Vote-by-Mail?
2. Requesting a Ballot
3. Correcting a Missing or Mismatched Signature on a Vote-by-Mail Ballot
4. Tracking a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request & Returned Ballot
5. Picking Up Someone Else’s Ballot (Beginning only 9 Days Prior to an Election)
6. Federal Voting Assistance Program (Uniformed Military and Overseas Citizens)

What is Vote-by-Mail?

Any registered voter can request a ballot and vote by mail. A voter does not have to be absent from the county of residence or have an excuse in order to vote-by-mail except on Election Day (see details below). A request covers all elections through the end of the calendar year for the second ensuing regularly scheduled general election, unless specified otherwise.

Requesting a Ballot

To receive a vote-by-mail ballot, the voter or authorized person must make a request in one of the following ways:

• Request a ballot to be mailed to my St. Johns County Residence Address. (Ballots Are Not Forwardable)
• Request a ballot to be mailed to a different United States address
• Overseas & Military Voters Request Your Ballot Here
• In person at the St Johns County Supervisor of Elections office
• By telephone at 904-823-2238
• In writing
  • Email: Contacting Us
  • Fax: 904-823-2249
  • Mail: Supervisor of Elections Office, 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101, St Augustine, FL 32095

For those making the request on behalf of themselves, the following information is required:

• The name of the voter for whom the ballot is being requested;
• The voter’s address;
• The voter’s date of birth; and
• The voter’s signature (if the request is written)

If a request is being made on behalf of an immediate family member or legal guardian, the following additional information must be provided:

• The requestor’s address;
• The requestor’s driver’s license number (if available);
• The requestor’s relationship to the voter; and
• The requestor’s signature (if the request is written)

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed is no later than 5 p.m. on the tenth (10th) day before the election. Otherwise, a vote-by-mail ballot can be picked-up until and including on Election Day. However, the ballot must still be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day if the voted ballot is to count.

Correcting a Missing or Mismatched Signature on a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

If you were notified by this office because you did not sign the Voter’s Certificate before returning your Vote-By-Mail Ballot OR because the signature does not match the voter’s signature on file, you must complete This Form  (Link will open in new window) and return it to our office not later than 5 PM on the second (2nd) day following the election. In addition to the completed form, you must also send a copy of an allowable identification as outlined in the form instructions. Complete instructions are included on the form. Failure to follow the Affidavit instructions carefully may cause your ballot not to count.

Tracking a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request & Returned Ballot

Any voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can track the status of his or her ballot online through the Voter Information lookup tool.

Picking Up Someone Else’s Ballot (9 days prior to an election)

Within nine (9) days of an election, a voter may authorize a designee (in writing) to pick up a Vote-By-Mail ballot, that designee must provide the above information in addition to completing the Affidavit to Pick Up a Vote-By-Mail Ballot for Voter Form (Affidavit in English) (Affidavit in Spanish)

Federal Voting Assistance Program (Uniformed Military and Overseas Citizens)

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world.

The Director of FVAP administers the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. UOCAVA, as amended by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, requires States to transmit requested absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters no later than 45 days before a federal election. Those citizens protected by UOCAVA include:

• Members of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps)
• Members of the Merchant Marines
• Eligible family members of the above
• U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.

FVAP assists voters through partnerships with the Military Services, Department of State, Department of Justice and election officials from 50 States, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program for more information about the program, download the necessary Election Material forms , or view their online Voting Assistance Guide .

Vicky Oakes
St. Johns County
Supervisor of Elections (904) 823-2238
Toll Free: (888) 960-2959
Fax: (904) 823-2249
4455 Avenue A, Suite 101
St. Augustine, Florida 32095

3 Ways to Return your Vote-By-Mail Ballot

You can return your Vote-By-Mail Ballot one of three ways.. US Postal Mail
Mailing ballots to:
4455 Avenue A, Suite 101 – St. Augustine, FL 32095
One Forever Stamp

24 Hour Drop Box @ Our Office
4455 Avenue A, Suite 101 – St. Augustine, FL 32095

Drop Boxes at all St Johns County Public Libraries, Tax Offices in Ponte Vedra and Julington Creek, and St. Augustine Beach City Hall
Look for the Red Box inside each location