# Absent absentee ballot
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absent-absentee-ballot/469565
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 25, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absent-absentee-ballot/469565 "2008-10-25T22:47:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MsAnneThrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsAnneThrope)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absent-absentee-ballot/469565/1 "2008-10-25T22:47:18Z")
I’m new to posting here (or anywhere else), so please forgive me if this question has been answered already.
Since I am voting in FL, I requested an absentee ballot by mail (paper, please, I don’t trust your machines). The request was mailed last Friday (the 18th), and I have not yet received my ballot. With early voting here, I could have voted on any one of the past 5 days. Want to vote now!
How long does it take to receive an absentee ballot? If I’ve already requested an absentee ballot, can I vote at a polling location and ignore the ballot when - if - it arrives in the mail, or will that screw things up? This is hardly my first rodeo, but it is the first time I’ve requested an absentee ballot.
Thank you in advance for anyone fighting my ignorance!
gObama!
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absent-absentee-ballot/469565/2 "2008-10-25T22:53:03Z")
Best bet is to call your local Board of Elections. They’ll have a fairly definitive answer and can advise you on what to do.
---
### Author:  [@MsAnneThrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsAnneThrope)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absent-absentee-ballot/469565/3 "2008-10-26T02:01:51Z")
Thank you very much for your help.