Graphic promoting voting by mail in Florida for the 2024 elections. The graphic features a yellow outline of the state of Florida, an icon of an envelope to signify mail, and the text 'Vote by Mail 2024' in large, bold letters. Below it reads 'The Tributary's Guide to Voting in Florida' and a web address 'floridatrib.org/2024Elections' on a white torn-paper effect.

In 2021, the Florida Legislature passed a law that changed voting by mail in the state. 

A recent Politico story looking at vote-by-mail (VBM) trends found a more than 50% drop in mail-in ballot requests in the 2022 midterms, so it’s already making an impact.

Bottom line: If you want to vote by mail in the 2024 elections — even if you’ve gotten them automatically before — you must request your ballot by Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. Read on to find out how.

How to request a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot

If you’re unsure if you’ve requested a vote-by-mail ballot in 2024, you can check at the Duval Supervisor of Elections website’s voter lookup tool.

Once you’ve confirmed that you need to make the request, a button will take you to the online form where you can make the request.

To request a vote by mail ballot, you will need your driver’s license number, Florida ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Not in Duval? Here’s a list of the vote-by-mail request links for every county in Florida: https://allvotingislocal.org/how-to-vote-by-mail-in-florida/. 

You must request your VBM ballot by Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. for the Nov. 5 election, which includes primary elections and elections for judges and school boards. If you requested it for the Aug. 20 primary, you do not need to re-request it for the Nov. 5 election.

How to return your mail ballot

The Supervisor of Elections must receive your VBM ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Keep this in mind if you are putting it in the mail! The postmark on the envelope will not matter; it is when it is received that counts.

If you prefer to return your mail-in ballot in person, you can drop it off at any early voting site, at your assigned precinct or at the Supervisor of Elections main office on Election Day. 

The Duval Supervisor of Elections has a video and website with instructions on voting by mail.

One last thing — if someone else is picking up or returning your VBM ballot for you, make sure you understand the rules. It’s best if it’s an immediate family member.

If you aren’t sure, here’s a list of websites and contacts for every county’s Supervisor of Elections: https://www.myfloridaelections.com/Contact-your-SOE.