How to Vote in St. Lucie County

Florida law requires the use of an Optical Scan paper ballot voting system for all voters except those with disabilities.  For voters with disabilities, a Touch Screen is available at each precinct.  There are three ways to vote in St. Lucie County.

  1. Voting absentee by mail:

    Every registered voter is entitled to vote an absentee paper ballot for convenience.  You may request an absentee ballot by mail, by phone at 772-462-1500, by fax at 772-462-1439 or by using our online forms.  You can also request an absentee ballot via email at slcabsentee@slcelections.com. 

    You can also vote an absentee ballot in person at any Supervisor of Elections office before Election Day.  Absentee Ballots are mailed approximately thirty (30) days prior to each Election.

  2. Voting early before election day:

    You may vote early at any designated Early Voting location 15 days prior to election day . 

  3. Voting at the precinct on election day:

    The polls will be open from 7:00AM to 7:00PM.  On election day, you must vote in the precinct in which you live.  YOU CANNOT VOTE AT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE.

    When you enter the polling place, you will be asked to show photo and signature ID.  Once your identity has been established you will be asked to sign the poll list.  If you do not have the proper identification, you must vote a provisional ballot.

    To determine your polling place, check your voter information card or use the online precinct finder option.  If you have moved call your Supervisor of Elections Office at 772-462-1500. 

    More information about each voting machine is described below.

Accu-Vote
Optical Scan Voting

MARK YOUR BALLOTFilling in the Oval

After signing the poll list you will be issued a paper ballot and a secrecy sleeve.  You will then be directed to a private voting booth to mark your ballot.  Be sure to use only the marking pen provided in the voting booth to completely fill in the oval next to your choice.  If you try to erase or make any other marks on the ballot, your vote may not be read by the optical scan voting machine.  If you do make a mistake, please do not hesitate to ask for a new ballot.  Florida Law allows you to receive two replacement ballots.

CAST YOUR BALLOTOptical Scan

After marking your ballot, take the ballot (in the secrecy folder) to the Accu-Vote Optical Scan voting machine.  Insert the voted ballot into the slot on the top of the voting machine.  The ballot is pulled from the secrecy sleeve and dropped into the ballot box.  After the machine takes your ballot, your vote is counted and recorded instantly. 

If the Ballot cannot be read for any reason, it will be returned with a specific error code, allowing it to be corrected by the voter.

Click on the links below to watch a video presentation on Voting with the Optical Scan voting system.  This video is in Windows Media Video format.

Dial Up                   High speed DSL/Cable

Touch Screen Voting

In Florida, only persons with disabilities have the option of voting on the Accu-Vote touch screen voting system.  Each precinct is equipped with a touch screen voting system to allow unassisted voting by persons with disabilities.  This system is equipped with earphones, audio instructions and a touchpad.  This system also allows the user to choose to magnify the font size on the screen or to choose a contrasted black and white screen.  If you are disabled and choose to vote a paper ballot instead of using the touch screen, please ask a poll worker for assistance.

MARK YOUR BALLOT

To vote, simply follow the directions on the screen.  To make a selection on the touch screen, touch the box on the screen beside the candidate’s name.  The box will become highlighted in red and marked with an “X”.  If you decide to change your vote, touch on the highlighted box with the “X”.  The screen will change showing none selected.  You may now make another selection.

CAST YOUR BALLOT

The final page is the summary screen. This screen displays the race and the voter’s selections and will show if there are any blank races. To cast your ballot, select Cast Ballot which is located on the bottom right corner of the screen.

Touch Screen Voting Machine

Touch Screen

Click here to watch a video presentation on Voting with the Touch Screen voting system.

This video is in Windows Media Video format.