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Voting and Elections Information for Florida

Voter Registration in Florida

Eligibility

  • Age: At least 18 before Election Day (You may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old)
  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Residence: Must be a resident of the State of Florida
  • Formerly incarcerated individuals: May vote if not in prison and not on parole. Must not have been convicted of a felony without your voting rights having been restored. For additional information, please see question 15 of the Florida Division of Elections Voter Registration FAQ
  • Must not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored
  • Check to see if you are already registered https://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/register-to-vote-or-update-your-information/

Deadline

  • Eligible individuals can register to vote at any time.
  • The deadline to register is 29 days before the upcoming election.
  • Registration deadlines for 2020 are: Presidential Preference Primary Election: February 18, Primary Election: July 20, General Election: October 5.
  • For a primary election, the deadline to change parties is 29 days before election day. For a general election, a party change can be made at any time. A Federal holiday moves the deadline to the next business day.
  • Late registration is available if you (or accompanying family member) have been discharged or separated from the Merchant Marines or armed forces, or from employment outside the territorial United States. The late registration deadline is 5 p.m. on the Friday before election day in the country in which you are to be registered. Contact your Supervisor of Elections for more information and to obtain the form you have to complete.

For more information on voter registration deadlines for upcoming elections, please visit our Election Dates webpage.

Online registration

If you are a Florida resident and otherwise eligible, visit RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov to submit a new registration online, to update your existing record, or to use the system to populate, print, sign and mail in a paper application.

register-to-vote-fl-image

Online registration is available in English and Spanish.

Mail-in registration

The voter registration application form is also available for download [English PDF / Espanol PDF] if you do not wish to use the online system.

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Updating registration      

If you are already registered to vote in Florida but you need to update any information on your voter registration record, you can submit a change at visit RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov to update your existing record. You can also call or email an address change to your county Supervisor of Elections.

For any other questions, call or email your county Supervisor of Elections.

Cancelling registration

If you are no longer a resident of Florida, send written notice to the Supervisor of Elections of the county of your former residence to cancel your Florida registration.

ID Requirements for Florida Voters

ID Requirements for Registration

Online Registration

For online voter registration, you will need your Florida driver's license (Florida DL) or a Florida identification card (Florida ID card) issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.

To protect your identity, you will also need: the issued date of your Florida DL or Florida ID card; and the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN).

Note: If you don't have one or all of the information above, you may still use the online system to pre-fill a voter registration application form. However, you will have to print, sign, and then mail or deliver your completed voter registration application to your county Supervisor of Elections' office.

Mail-in Registration

An ID is not required for mail-in registration, but you must provide one of the documents listed below to verify residence:

  • A current and valid Florida driver’s license number (FL DL#) or Florida identification card number (FL ID#), OR
  • The last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN), OR

If you do not have any of the above numbers, check “None.” If you leave the field and box blank, your new registration may be denied. If you have checked "None" you will need one of the following:

  • A copy of an ID that shows your name and photo (acceptable IDs-- U.S. Passport, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, or public assistance ID), OR
  • A copy of an ID that shows your name and current residence address (acceptable documents utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document).

The special ID is not required if you are 65 or older, have a temporary or permanent physical disability, are a member of the active uniformed services or merchant marine who is absent from the county for active duty, or a spouse or dependent thereof, or are currently living outside the U.S. but otherwise eligible to vote in Florida.

Florida Voting Registration FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-voter-registration/

ID Requirements for Voting

Whether during early voting or on Election Day, you will be asked to provide at the polls a valid photo ID with signature. Any one of the following photo IDs will be accepted: Florida driver's license; Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or credit card; military identification; student identification; retirement center identification; neighborhood association identification; public assistance identification; veteran health identification card issued by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs; license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06; employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot. As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.

Florida Voting FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-voting/

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voting/

Where to get an ID

Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles

Obtaining a Driver’s License or ID card

Casting a Ballot in Florida

Important Dates

Voting FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-voting/

Early Voting

By law, early voting must be held at least for 8 days. The mandatory early voting periods for 2020 are:

  • Presidential Preference Primary Election: March 7 - 14
  • Primary Election: August 8 - 15
  • General Election: October 24 - 31

Each county Supervisor of Elections may offer more days of early voting from one or more of the following days:

  • Presidential Preference Primary Election: March 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 15
  • Primary Election: August 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 16
  • General Election: October 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and November 1

Check with your county Supervisor of Elections for the additional days of early voting that may be offered in your county: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/supervisors/

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voting/early-voting/

Absentee voting

For absent stateside and overseas uniformed service member and overseas civilian voters, Supervisors of Elections send the ballots no later than 45 days before an election. The send periods for 2020 are:

  • Presidential Preference Primary Election: February 1
  • Primary Election: July 4
  • General Election: September 19

For domestic voters, Supervisors of Elections send the ballots during a 7-day window between 40 and 33 days before an election. The send periods for 2020 are:

  • Presidential Preference Primary Election: February 6-13
  • Primary Election: July 9-16
  • General Election: September 24 - October 1

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/election-dates/

Polling places and hours

Rides to the polls

Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:

Accessible Voting for Persons with Disabilities

If you require assistance to vote due to a disability you have several options:

More information on accessibility and polling places and systems: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voting/accessible-voting-for-persons-with-disabilities/

Language Assistance and Translation

By law, Florida provides language assistance and translation of election-related materials in Spanish. See Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and U.S. Census Bureau determination: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/voting-rights/voting-rights-determination-file.html

The state provides assistance in several ways:

  1. Spanish assistance is available through the statewide voter assistance and voter hotlines: https://www.dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/contact-us/
  2. Information is available on the Division of Elections' website. Statewide-issued or -produced materials are translated, to include the voter registration application: https://www.dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/register-to-vote-or-update-your-information/ and the Florida Voter Registration and Voting Guide, in English https://www.dos.myflorida.com/media/699606/2018-voterregguide-1-18-2019.pdf and Spanish https://www.dos.myflorida.com/media/699607/voter-registration-guide-spanish.pdf.
  3. The following thirteen Florida counties are specifically subject to Spanish language requirements under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. They must provide oral and written assistance and election-related materials such as instructions, forms, ballots and notices:
    • Broward
    • DeSoto
    • Hardee
    • Hendry
    • Hillsborough
    • Lee
    • Miami-Dade
    • Orange
    • Osceola
    • Palm Beach
    • Pinellas
    • Polk
    • Seminole

More information and resources for language assistance: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voting/language-assistance-for-voting/

Elections

Primaries vs. general elections

  • Primary elections are conducted to select each party’s candidates in the general election.
  • In Florida, a voter must be a member of a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary.
  • In a general election, voters are not required to have a party affiliation.

More information relating to primary elections: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/closed-primary-party-affiliation/

Florida Elections FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-elections/

Minor Political Parties FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-minor-political-parties/

Who are the candidates, and what else is on the ballot?

Florida Candidates FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-candidates/

More information about candidates, campaign documents and committees: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidates-committees/information-about-candidates-campaign-documents-and-committees/

Who conducts elections?

The Florida Department of State's Division of Elections provides administrative support to the Secretary of State, Florida's Chief Election Officer, to ensure that Florida has fair and accurate elections. The Division consists of three bureaus - the Bureau of Election Records, the Bureau of Voter Registration Services, and the Bureau of Voting Systems Certification. Through these bureaus and the director's office, the Division ensures compliance with election laws, provides statewide coordination of election administration and promotes public participation in the electoral process. 

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/about-us/

Voter Rights

Documents containing Election laws and statutes (including the Voting Rights Act): https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/about-us/

Where to go with complaints about candidates or how elections are conducted

The Department of State has the authority (under section 97.012(15) of the Florida Statutes) to conduct preliminary investigations into any allegations of irregularities or fraud involving voter registration or voting, or candidate or issue petition activities.

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/elections-fraud-complaint/

Note: "Elections fraud" does not include violations of Chapter 106, F.S., relating to transparency in elections, which are enforced by the Florida Elections Commission: http://www.fec.state.fl.us/

Campaign Finance

The Campaign Finance database (https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidates-committees/campaign-finance/campaign-finance-database/) contains all contributions and expenditures reported to the Florida Division of Elections since candidacy was announced, beginning with the 1996 election.

Candidates, committees, and electioneering communications organizations which are registered with this state file their financial reports with the Division of Elections' electronic filing system (EFS). The information in the EFS is made available to the public. This page gives detailed information on accessing and searching the EFS: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidates-committees/campaign-finance/ (Note: The EFS does not include campaign finance reports filed by federal candidates. Federally filed reports can be found at the Federal Election Commission website at: https://www.fec.gov/)

Florida Campaign Finance FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-campaign-finance/

Florida Political Committees FAQ: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-political-committees/

Contact Your Elected Officials

Contact the Governor's Officehttps://www.flgov.com/contact-governor-2

Contact your U.S. Senatorshttps://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Contact your U.S. Representativehttps://www.house.gov/representatives

Contact your Florida Senatorhttp://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

Contact your Florida Representativehttps://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

More information: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/elected-officials/

General Resources on Voting and Elections

General Resources on Voting and Elections

(Adapted from The Librarian’s Reference Guide to Voter Registration, Voting & Elections by Rachel Dobkin)

Hotlines

1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)

1-888-API-VOTE (Asian multilingual assistance)

Voter Registration & Election Day Resources

Find useful voter information including:

  • Local Election Office and Contact Information
  • Address, Telephone and Email for Local Election Offices
  • Upcoming Federal Election Dates and Deadlines
  • Upcoming State Election Dates and Deadlines
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Identification Requirements
  • Voter Materials Transmission Options
  • State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered? Where’s my Ballot?

Population-Specific information and Resources

Voting Rights: Laws, Cases, Policy

Voter Engagement

Voter Education

Campaign Finance/Funding Information

Primary Sources, Lesson Plans & Exhibits