Florida

 

Help for People Who Want to Vote in Florida

 

 

If you encounter ANY problems where someone is trying to deprive you of your right to vote, you have a question about voting, or you just need some help voting, please call the Florida Voter Protection Hotline at: (833) 868-3352. They are available 24/7, but please only call them if your question or issue cannot be resolved here first. Please also SAVE the hotline number to your phone--you may need it unexpectedly, like if you are at the polls and someone tries to intimate you or prevent you from voting, CALL the hotline IMMEDIATELY.

 

 

 

 

 

Registration & Voting 

  • Am I Registered to Vote? You can Check to See if You're Registered to Vote here.
  • How Do I Register to Vote or Update My Info? You can visit this website to register or update your information: Register to Vote or Update Your Registration. This will allow you to register to vote online. You can also register by mail or in person, but online is the fastest. 
  • How Old Do I Have to Be to Register? You can pre-register when you are 16 years-old. Use the same link above to register. You will be able to vote if you will be 18 by Election Day.
  • What Do I Need to Register Online? You will need either you Florida driver's license of ID card (as well as the date they were issues), AND the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you DO NOT have this information, you can STILL use the online system to pre-fill out your registration application, BUT, you will then need to print it out, sign it, and mail or deliver it in person to your county supervisor of Election's office. **Note: You do NOT need to submit these IDs--you just need to have the information from them to fill in the application form, so you can do this even if you have no way to submit an ID to your county election officials.
  • How Do I Find My County Election Official(s)? Visit this page: Find Your Local Supervisor of Elections. If you have questions about where your ballot is, your registration status, or similar issues, you can call them. They are also the place where you can mail or turn in your voter registration application.
  • Who Is Eligible to Vote in Florida? To be eligible to register/vote, you must: be a US Citizen, a Florida Resident, and at least 18 years-old.
  • Who Is Not Allowed to Vote? Yes, you cannot vote if you are a convicted felon, UNLESS your voting rights have been restored. Also, you cannot vote if a court has said that "mentally incompetent" specifically with respect to voting, UNLESS that right has been restored. If you are under guardianship or have been declared "mentally incompetent," but it was not by a court and was not specific about voting rights, you can still vote if you meet the other qualifications.
  • Can I Vote if I Was Convicted of a Crime? In many cases, yes. As long as it's not a certain kind of felony, your rights are restored once you have served your sentence (including probation or parole) and paid any fees/fines/restitution you owe. For more information, check out this page: Restoring the Right to Vote for Felony Convictions. There are certain felonies that are "disenfranchising" (meaning you cannot vote if you are convicted of them, even if you've served your sentence). These include murder and sex offenses, but to be sure you don't have your rights restored, visit the page above--they are committed to helping make sure everyone can vote.
  • What If I Was Formerly Incarcerated & Can't Pay the Fines I Need to Vote? There is an organization that helps pay these fines and fees, so you can vote! Check it out here!
  • What Is the Deadline to Register to Vote? October 5. There was a recent court case challenging this, but so far, this is the rule. If it changes, we'll let you know!
  • Can I Vote Early In Person? Yes, if you are eligible to vote, you can vote early. 
  • When is Early Voting? The early voting period starts on October 19 and runs until November 1, but dates and hours may be vary depending on where you live.
  • Do I Need an ID to Vote Early? Yes, you need an ID, and you will need to provide a valid signature. Be very careful here--you want your signature to match the signature the state has on file for you. If an election official thinks there is a signature mismatch, you may be contacted later, and you will be required to cure (fix) the issue within a very short period (2 days). If your signature is missing, the same process and rules apply. 
  • Where Can I Vote Early? Registered voters may vote early at any of the designated early voting sites in their county (unlike Election Day, you do not have to only go to your specific precinct's location). However, make sure you vote in your county at a designated site, during the dates and hours that place is open, so that your vote will count. 
  • What Forms of ID are Accepted for In-Person Voting (Early & Election Day Voting)? Whether during early voting or on Election Day, you will be asked to provide a valid photo ID with a signature. Any one of the following photo IDs will be accepted:
    • Florida driver’s license
    • Florida ID card issued by the Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
    • US passport
    • Debit or credit card
    • Military ID
    • Student ID
    • Retirement center ID
    • Neighborhood association ID
    • Public assistance ID
    • Veteran health ID card issued by the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs
    • License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
    • Employee ID 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 IF the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.

  • What If I Don't Have an ID--Can I Get A Free One? Yes---this website will help you Get A Free ID to Vote. You can also still vote provisionally, and your ballot will count as long as the signature on your ballot matches the one in your voter registration record. Also, you can vote by mail (absentee)--you do not need an ID to do this, but you may need an ID to apply--check with your local supervisor of elections, and they will let you know (also see our info below about how to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot). If you are still having trouble, call the voter protection hotline immediately. We (and they) will do everything possible to help make sure eligible voters get to cast a ballot. If you need extra help that they couldn't provide, you can visit our "contact us" page and tell us what you need--we'll do our best to help. Please include a phone number, so we can call you if we need to discuss the situation to figure out the best solution.
  • Where Can I Find My Early Voting Location(s)? You can find your early voting locations, dates, and times here (although it is a fairly complex page with excel documents). However, we have a much easier way to do it--visit this webpage Look-up My Voting Information, and enter your information. It should tell you everything you need to know--your registration status, your polling hours and location(s) for early voting and Election Day, and more!
  • When Are the Polls Open on Election Day? From 7am-7pm. You can find your polling location on your registration card, or you can check online here: Look-up My Voting Information.
  • What if It's After 7pm, But I'm still in Line? STAY IN LINE! By law, the state is required to let everyone vote who is in line at the time the polls close. HOWEVER, do not leave the line for any reason--this will mean you lose your right to vote. We strongly recommend voting early if you can or voting by mail, but if you plan to vote on Election Day, you'll need a voting plan.
  • What Kind of Voting Plan Do I Need? We have a sample voting plan card that you can print, cut out, and keep with you when you go to the polls that tells you things you should plan for. Here are some other things to make sure your voting plan succeeds--so you get to vote: always have the voter protection hotline with you, programmed into your phone if possible; bring some water and something to eat in case the lines are long; check with your local supervisor of elections if you have certain needs that need to be met (for example, you are disabled and cannot walk/stand in line, or you need another accommodation)--the more notice they have, the better they can accommodate your needs. Finally, plan to wait in line if you have to. You may need to make childcare arrangements or talk to your boss. If you're supposed to be working on the day you are going to vote, talk to your employer to let them know ahead of time. If they tell you that you cannot take the time to you, call the voter protection hotline immediately; make arrangements in advance for how you are going to get to the polls; make sure to bring an accepted form of ID; and just make sure you are ready to go!
  • I'm Disabled: What Help Is Available to Help Make Sure I Am Able to Vote? The law requires the state to help disabled voters if needed. Here are Florida's Assistance for Disabled Voters provisions.

Questions About Voting By Mail (Absentee)

  • I'd Like to Vote By Mail this Year--Am I Eligible? Anyone who is a registered voter, who applies correctly, and who applies by the deadline! You do not need an excuse or reason to vote absentee (by mail).
  • How to I Apply to Vote Absentee (By Mail)? You can request a ballot to vote by mail in ANY of the following ways: (1). File an online application on your County Supervisors of Elections' website; (2). Request an absentee ballot by mailing your request to your local supervisor of elections (use the link above to find your local official's contact information and to get help with this; (3). Mail or fax a request for a mail-in ballot to your local supervisor of elections.; (4). Request your absentee ballot in person at your supervisor of elections' office; OR (4). Call your local supervisor of elections and request to vote by mail.
  • What Do I Need to Include in My Request to Vote By Mail? You will need to include the name of the voter (you), your address (use your voting registration address), your date of birth, and your signature if IF the request is in writing (so fax, mail, possibly email--you'll have to call your supervisor of election's to make sure about whether email requests require a signature) AND/OR you are making the request for your ballot to be sent to an address that is different than the one that the state has on file for your voter registration. **Note: this signature requirement is NOT required if you are an absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot.
  • What is the Deadline to Request an Absentee (Vote By Mail) Ballot? Your request must be RECEIVED on or before October 24, but if you plan to vote by mail, PLEASE request it as soon as possible! You may not get your ballot in time (or be able to return it in time) if you wait until the last minute! Make your request as early as possible, and if possible, do it online. The second best options is in person. If you cannot do either do these, we recommend using email, fax, or calling, because that way, you will not have to worry about the mail deadlines or your request arriving in time. HOWEVER, if you do it by phone, make sure that you get some kind of confirmation from your election official--you don't want to have called and made a request, only to find out that you never receive a ballot. With the other methods, there is either a paper trail, or if you're doing it in person, you submit it in real time to your actual election officials.
  • I am Unable to Request My Absentee Ballot. Can Someone Request it for Me? Yes, voters can designate an immediate family member (a spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the voter or of the voter's spouse) or a voter's legal guardian to request the ballot on their behalf. The following additional information is required for the request:  (1). The address of the person requesting your ballot for you;  (2). that person's driver's license number, if available; (3). that person's relationship to you; AND (4). the signature of the person making the request IF they are making the request in writing. If not, have them call your local supervisor of elections to figure out what they need to do and what information that official will need, so that you can make sure your request will be approved.
  •  Who Can Pick up My Ballot? You can pick it up yourself at any time once the ballot becomes available, including on Election Day. If you want someone else to pick up your ballot for you, they can pick it up for you, but it must be no sooner than 9 days before Election Day. They DO NOT need to be immediate family, BUT they will need to fill out and sign an Affidavit to Pick Up a Voter's Absentee Ballot.
  • What is the Deadline to Return My Mail-In Ballot? Your ballot must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by 7 pm on Election Day. However, you do not have to mail it back--you can drop it off in person at a designated drop box in your county--this will allow you to drop it off safely and without being in contact with another person, so if you are concerned about safety by are worried that mailing your ballot will mean it doesn't arrive in time, this is a good alternative. Contact your local supervisor of elections (link above), and they will give you the location(s) of your drop box site(s). DO NOT DROP YOUR BALLOT OFF ANYWHERE EXCEPT IN THE PLACE(S) YOUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS TELL YOU---IT WILL NOT COUNT IF YOU DO THIS.
  • Can I Track My Ballot Request & My Ballot to Check their Status? Yes! 

    Any voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through a link within the Division of Elections' Voter Information Lookup or through their county Supervisor of Elections' website. The postal service also provides a free service called Informed Delivery that allows you to digitally preview the address side of certain mail pieces such as a requested vote-by-mail ballot that will arrive soon at your address.

  • What Can I Do to Make Sure My Absentee Ballot Counts? We have a blog that discusses the issues that may make these ballots not count, and we have made sure to let voters know how to avoid making these mistakes, so that their ballots will count. You can find that information here: Make Sure Your Absentee (Vote-By-Mail) Ballot Counts.

  • What If I Get an Absentee Ballot But Change My Mind & Want to Vote in Person? No problem! If the voter decides to go to the polls to vote, you should bring your vote-by-mail ballot (marked or not). The vote-by-mail ballot will be canceled, and you will be able to cast a  regular ballot at the polls. However, you comes to the polls without your vote-by-mail ballot, you can vote a regular ballot if the supervisor of elections' office can confirm that it has not received the voter's vote-by-mail ballot. Be very careful--if you return your vote-by-mail ballot AND go to the polls to vote, your vote will not count, and you could be in criminal trouble. Voters can only vote once. In the best case scenario, if you have already returned your absentee ballot and then you to the polls, the state will throw out your in-person ballot and count the one your returned first as your final vote. However, you do NOT want to be in this situation at all. Never do this. The worse cases may be more likely than the best one. Also, If it is confirmed that the supervisor of elections' office has already received the voted vote-by-mail ballot or it cannot be determined, the voter cannot vote a regular ballot at the polls. However, if you believe that he or she has not already voted, then you be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. That ballot will only count if you did not already vote in reality. If you did, the provisional ballot will be thrown out. Please be very careful here--it is fine to change your mind as long as you did not complete and return your absentee ballot already. It is NOT fine to vote by mail and then show up at the polls. Florida is very, very strict about this.
  • What if I Voted By Mail, & I Am Told by an Election Official that there is an Issue with My Signature? The supervisor of elections is required to notify a voter as soon as it is practical, if a voter's signature is missing or does not match the one on record. Once a voter learns about the missing or mismatched signature, the voter may complete and return a “Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure” Affidavit (Form DS-DE 139 (English PDF / Español PDF) with a copy of ID. The documentation can be returned by mail, email, fax, or in person. The deadline to submit the form and the ID is no later than 5 p.m. (local time) on the 2nd day after an election. Failure to follow the instructions may cause the ballot not to be counted.

 

 

 

Many of Your Questions Can Be Answered Here!