Fla. Stat. 101.657
Early voting


(1)(a)

As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also designate any city hall, permanent public library facility, fairground, civic center, courthouse, county commission building, stadium, convention center, government-owned senior center, or government-owned community center as an early voting site; however, if so designated, the sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. In addition, a supervisor may designate one early voting site per election in an area of the county that does not have any of the eligible early voting locations. Such additional early voting site must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in that area with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. Each county shall, at a minimum, operate the same total number of early voting sites for a general election which the county operated for the 2012 general election. The results or tabulation of votes cast during early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.The supervisor shall designate each early voting site by no later than the 30th day prior to an election and shall designate an early voting area, as defined in s. 97.021, at each early voting site. The supervisor shall provide to the division no later than the 30th day before an election the address of each early voting site and the hours that early voting will occur at each site.All early voting sites in a county shall allow any person in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote.Early voting shall begin on the 10th day before an election that contains state or federal races and end on the 3rd day before the election, and shall be provided for no less than 8 hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site during the applicable period. In addition, early voting may be offered at the discretion of the supervisor of elections on the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election that contains state or federal races for at least 8 hours per day, but not more than 12 hours per day. The supervisor of elections may provide early voting for elections that are not held in conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of operation of early voting sites in those elections.Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 100.3605, municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a municipality provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 189.04, special districts may provide early voting in any district election not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a special district provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.

(1)(a)

As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of elections shall allow an elector to vote early in the main or branch office of the supervisor. The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or otherwise track the voter’s precinct for each early voted ballot. In order for a branch office to be used for early voting, it shall be a permanent facility of the supervisor and shall have been designated and used as such for at least 1 year prior to the election. The supervisor may also designate any city hall, permanent public library facility, fairground, civic center, courthouse, county commission building, stadium, convention center, government-owned senior center, or government-owned community center as an early voting site; however, if so designated, the sites must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. In addition, a supervisor may designate one early voting site per election in an area of the county that does not have any of the eligible early voting locations. Such additional early voting site must be geographically located so as to provide all voters in that area with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is practicable, and must provide sufficient nonpermitted parking to accommodate the anticipated amount of voters. Each county shall, at a minimum, operate the same total number of early voting sites for a general election which the county operated for the 2012 general election. The results or tabulation of votes cast during early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on election day. Results shall be reported by precinct.

(b)

The supervisor shall designate each early voting site by no later than the 30th day prior to an election and shall designate an early voting area, as defined in s. 97.021, at each early voting site. The supervisor shall provide to the division no later than the 30th day before an election the address of each early voting site and the hours that early voting will occur at each site.

(c)

All early voting sites in a county shall allow any person in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote.

(d)

Early voting shall begin on the 10th day before an election that contains state or federal races and end on the 3rd day before the election, and shall be provided for no less than 8 hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site during the applicable period. In addition, early voting may be offered at the discretion of the supervisor of elections on the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election that contains state or federal races for at least 8 hours per day, but not more than 12 hours per day. The supervisor of elections may provide early voting for elections that are not held in conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of operation of early voting sites in those elections.

(e)

Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 100.3605, municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a municipality provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.

(f)

Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 189.04, special districts may provide early voting in any district election not held in conjunction with county or state elections. If a special district provides early voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)-(c). The supervisor is not required to conduct early voting if it is provided pursuant to this subsection.

(2)

During any early voting period, each supervisor shall make available the total number of voters casting a ballot at each early voting location and the total number of vote-by-mail ballots received under s. 101.69(2) during the previous day. Each supervisor shall prepare an electronic data file listing the individual voters who cast a ballot during the early voting period. This information shall be provided in electronic format as provided by rule adopted by the division. The information shall be updated and made available no later than noon of each day and shall be contemporaneously provided to the division.

(3)

The ballot of each elector voting early shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before election day.

(4)(a)

The elector must provide identification and must complete an Early Voting Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:

EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE

I, , am a qualified elector in this election and registered voter of County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of County and that I reside at the listed address. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.

(Voter’s Signature)

(Address)

(City/State)

Any elector may challenge an elector seeking to vote early under the provisions of s. 101.111. Any challenged voter must vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall review the ballot and decide the validity of the ballot by majority vote.The canvass of returns for ballots cast under this subsection shall be substantially the same as votes cast by electors in precincts, as provided in s. 101.5614.

(4)(a)

The elector must provide identification and must complete an Early Voting Voter Certificate in substantially the following form:

EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE

I, , am a qualified elector in this election and registered voter of County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am the person so listed on the voter registration rolls of County and that I reside at the listed address. I understand that if I commit or attempt to commit fraud in connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more than once in an election I could be convicted of a felony of the third degree and both fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years. I understand that my failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.

(Voter’s Signature)

(Address)

(City/State)

(b)

Any elector may challenge an elector seeking to vote early under the provisions of s. 101.111. Any challenged voter must vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall review the ballot and decide the validity of the ballot by majority vote.

(c)

The canvass of returns for ballots cast under this subsection shall be substantially the same as votes cast by electors in precincts, as provided in s. 101.5614.

Source: Section 101.657 — Early voting, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0101.­657 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

101.001
Precincts and polling places
101.002
Use of system by municipalities
101.015
Standards for voting systems
101.017
Bureau of Voting Systems Certification
101.019
Ranked-choice voting prohibited
101.20
Publication of ballot form
101.21
Official ballots
101.021
Elector to vote the primary ballot of the political party in which he or she is registered
101.23
Election inspector to keep list of those voting
101.24
Ballot boxes and ballots
101.031
Instructions for electors
101.34
Custody of voting system
101.041
Secret voting
101.43
Substitute ballot
101.043
Identification required at polls
101.045
Electors must be registered in precinct
101.048
Provisional ballots
101.49
Procedure of election officers where signatures differ
101.049
Provisional ballots
101.51
Electors to occupy booth alone
101.051
Electors seeking assistance in casting ballots
101.58
Supervising and observing registration and election processes
101.62
Request for vote-by-mail ballots
101.64
Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots
101.65
Instructions to absent electors
101.67
Safekeeping of mailed ballots
101.68
Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot
101.69
Voting in person
101.71
Polling place
101.74
Temporary change of polling place in case of emergency
101.75
Municipal elections
101.111
Voter challenges
101.131
Watchers at polls
101.151
Specifications for ballots
101.161
Referenda
101.171
Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at voting locations
101.252
Candidates entitled to have names printed on certain ballots
101.254
When nominated names to appear in groups or districts
101.292
Definitions
101.293
Competitive sealed bids and proposals required
101.294
Purchase and sale of voting equipment
101.295
Penalties for violation
101.341
Prohibited activities by voting system custodians and deputy custodians
101.545
Retention and destruction of certain election materials
101.572
Public inspection of ballots
101.591
Voting system audit
101.595
Analysis and reports of voting problems
101.655
Supervised voting by absent electors in certain facilities
101.657
Early voting
101.661
Voting vote-by-mail ballots
101.662
Accessibility of vote-by-mail ballots
101.663
Electors
101.665
Administration of oaths
101.694
Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal postcard application
101.697
Electronic transmission of election materials
101.698
Absentee voting in emergency situations
101.715
Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability
101.731
Short title
101.732
Definitions relating to Elections Emergency Act
101.733
Election emergency
101.2512
Candidates’ names on general election ballots
101.2515
Translation of ballot language
101.5601
Short title
101.5602
Purpose
101.5603
Definitions relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act
101.5604
Adoption of system
101.5605
Examination and approval of equipment
101.5606
Requirements for approval of systems
101.5607
Department of State to maintain voting system information
101.5608
Voting by electronic or electromechanical method
101.5610
Inspection of ballot by election board
101.5611
Instructions to electors
101.5612
Testing of tabulating equipment
101.5613
Examination of equipment during voting
101.5614
Canvass of returns
101.5911
Rulemaking authority for voting system audit procedures
101.6101
Short title
101.6102
Mail ballot elections
101.6103
Mail ballot election procedure
101.6104
Challenge of votes
101.6105
Vote-by-mail voting
101.6106
Application of other election laws
101.6107
Department of State to adopt rules
101.6921
Delivery of special vote-by-mail ballot to certain first-time voters
101.6923
Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for certain first-time voters
101.6925
Canvassing special vote-by-mail ballots
101.6951
State write-in vote-by-mail ballot
101.6952
Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services and overseas voters
101.56042
Punch card type systems prohibited
101.56062
Standards for accessible voting systems
101.56063
Accessibility of voting systems and polling places
101.56064
Application for federal funds under ch. 2002-281
101.56065
Voting system defects
101.56075
Voting methods

Current through Fall 2025

§ 101.657. Early voting's source at flsenate​.gov