Mail-in ballots sent to Duval County voters in the U.S. have to be in the Supervisor of Elections office by the time polls close at 7 P.M. on Election Day — which this year is Tuesday, November 6.
But, Duval Chief Elections Officer, Robert Phillips, said the U.S. Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act extends that deadline for ballots sent to active-duty military and civilians living overseas.
“We know that, internationally, mail might not be as reliable as it is here in the United States. Also if you have soldiers or sailors who are very far away from conventional post offices, it allows them an extra 10 days to get their ballot back in to the supervisor of elections so it can be counted,” said Phillips.
But that doesn’t mean those living abroad can wait to vote until after they know who won.
Phillips said their ballots have to be in the mail on or before Election Day to be included in the final tally.
Election results are not officially certified until after the 10 day deadline-extension for overseas ballots has passed.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter @cydwjctnews.
