Guidelines For Making Sure Your Absentee Ballot is Counted

Requesting an Absentee Ballot
  • Your absentee ballot will be sent to the mailing address on file with the Supervisor of Elections unless you specify another address in your request.
    Absentee ballots cannot be forwarded unless you are in the military or reside overseas.  To ensure receipt of your absentee ballot, be sure to provide the address you would like to have your Absentee Ballot mailed to.  If you are requesting a ballot for more than one election and will be at different locations, be sure to indicate which address to use for each election.

    Please request your absentee ballot early to allow time for processing and mailing.
    • A Vote by Mail request must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the sixth day before the election by the Supervisor of Elections.
    • The Supervisor of Elections shall mail absentee ballots to voters no later than 4 days before the election.
    For more information, see Florida Statute 101.62(4)(b).

    Marking an Absentee Ballot
    • Mark your ballot as instructed.
    • You must mark your own ballot unless you require assistance to vote because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
    • Voters who require assistance may have a person of his or her choice, other than the elector's employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of the elector's union, mark the elector's choices or assist the elector in marking his or her choices on the ballot. (Florida Statute 101.661)
    • Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for a race as indicated on the ballot.  If the ballot indicates “Vote For One” in any race, mark only one candidate or answer for that race.  If you vote for more than one, your vote in that race will not be counted.
    • If you make a mistake on your ballot, please call the Supervisor of Elections for further instructions, 407.742.6000.
    Returning an Absentee Ballot
    • Place your ballot in the secrecy sleeve, then place inside of the return mailing envelope provided.
    • Do not put more than one ballot in the return mailing envelope.
    • Be sure to completely fill out the Voter's Certificate on the back of the return mailing envelope, sign and date where indicated.  
    • An absentee ballot will not be counted if the signature on the voter's certificate does not match the signature on file.  If you need to update your signature, please do so by completing a new Voter Registration Application and returning it to our office no later than fifteen (15) days prior to any election.
    • If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date you signed the Voter's Certificate on the line above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted.
    • Mail or hand deliver the completed Absentee Ballot to the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections or to one of our early voting sites in operation prior to Election Day.  If mailed, make sure there is sufficient postage.
    • Absentee Ballots must be received at the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections by  7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Under no circumstances will a completed Absentee Ballot be accepted for counting at a polling location on Election Day.
    • If you decide to vote at the polls, take your absentee ballot with you so that it may be canceled.  If you do not bring your Absentee Ballot with you and the status of your absentee ballot cannot be determined, you may be issued a Provisional Ballot (Florida Statute 101.69).

    Dates to Remember

    • Poinciana Villages 40th Anniversary
      May 26, 2012 @ 11:00 AM
      Please come visit our booth at the Poinciana Villages 40th Anniversary Celebration - Vance Harmon Park - 50 Country Club Rd. Kissimmee, FL 34758 - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Memorial Day
      May 28, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Voter Information Fair
      June 05, 2012 @ 1:00 PM
      Come visit us at the Voter Information Fair - St. Cloud City Hall Council Chambers - 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - 1300 9th St. #A St. Cloud, FL 34769 
    • Independence Day
      July 04, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Book Closing for Primary Election
      July 16, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      The voter registration books will close on July 16, 2012 for the Primary Election. The Book Closing Date is the statewide deadline to register to vote, or change your political party for any election if you are already registered. For first time voters in Florida, a completed voter registration application must be in the Supervisor of Elections' office, or postmarked, by the book closing date. If you have relocated to a new address within Florida, you must register that address with the Supervisor of Elections' office as soon as possible.
    • Early Voting
      August 04, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting begins today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 05, 2012 @ 6:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 06, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 07, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 08, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 09, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 10, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting continues today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Continues through August 11.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Early Voting
      August 11, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Early Voting ends today.  Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM.  Click here for a list of Early Voting locations.
    • Primary Election
      August 14, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  If you are unsure of where you vote, enter your address in our precinct finder. 
    • Labor Day
      September 03, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Book Closing for General Election
      October 08, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      The voter registration books will close on October 8, 2012 for the General Election. The Book Closing Date is the statewide deadline to register to vote, or change your political party for any election if you are already registered. For first time voters in Florida, a completed voter registration application must be in the Supervisor of Elections' office, or postmarked, by the book closing date. If you have relocated to a new address within Florida, you must register that address with the Supervisor of Elections' office as soon as possible.
    • General Election
      November 06, 2012 @ 7:00 PM
      Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  If you are unsure of where you vote, enter your address in our precinct finder. 
    • Veteran's Day (Observed)
      November 12, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Thanksgiving Day
      November 22, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Thanksgiving Holiday
      November 23, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Christmas Eve
      December 24, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.
    • Christmas
      December 25, 2012 @ 5:00 PM
      Holiday - Office will be closed.