If you're a U.S. uniformed services member on active duty, a Merchant Marine member, spouse or dependent, or an American citizen residing outside the U.S., here's what you should know about voting in Florida (information from the Florida Division of Elections website).

RELATED:

• How to vote in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
• Florida's closed primary system: FAQs

Request a vote-by-mail ballot

You may register to vote and request a vote-by-mail ballot at the same time by using a Federal Post Card Application. You may obtain the FPCA from any voting assistance officer or from the Federal Voting Assistance Program website. You may also call or request by mail, fax or email to your county Supervisor of Elections that a voter registration application or an absentee ballot be sent to you.

Unless you designate otherwise, your request for a vote-by-mail ballot is valid for all elections through the end of the calendar year for the second ensuing regularly scheduled general election.

Tracking vote-by-mail ballots

Supervisors of Elections must mail ballots to military and overseas citizens no later than 45 days before each election; however, you may request that your vote-by-mail ballot be faxed or emailed to you. If you include an email address with your vote-by-mail ballot request, the supervisor will notify you by email that your request has been received.

The Supervisor will also provide the estimated date the ballot will be sent to you and let you know when he or she receives your voted ballot.

You may track your vote-by-mail ballot request and ballot online by using either the Division of Elections' Check your Voter Status webpage or through your county Supervisor of Elections website.

If it's near Election Day and you still have not received your requested absentee ballot, immediately contact your county Supervisor of Elections.

Alternatively, if you are an absent stateside or overseas uniformed services personnel or spouse or dependent absent because of the uniformed services personnel or an overseas U.S. citizen, you can use the emergency backup absentee ballot known as the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot. It can be used to vote in any election for federal office and any state or local election.

Returning your ballot

You must return your vote-by-mail ballot either by mail, in person or through someone on your behalf no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

If you are overseas, you can fax the ballot and certificate directly to the fax number provided by the county elections supervisor, or using the fax number provided by the Federal Voting Assistance Program. 

There is a 10-day extension for overseas voters, as long as their ballot is postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days of the election. 

Further information about the FPCA and the FWAB can be found at the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website at fvap.gov/florida.