FAQs
Source: League of Women Voters of Florida Education Fund
Who Can Register to Vote?
In order to register to vote in Florida, you must:
- Be a Citizen of the United States of America (To be a U.S. citizen, you must be born in the United States or certain U.S. territories, be born to U.S. citizen parents, or be naturalized. Although a lawful permanent resident (commonly referred to as a "green card holder") has the right to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis, he or she cannot register or vote). Persons who have U.S citizenship and citizenship from another nation can also register and vote in the U.S;
- Be a Florida resident;
- Be 18 years old (You may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old, but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old);
- Not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored;
- Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored; and
- Provide your current and valid Florida driver's license number or Florida identification card number. If you do not have a Florida driver's license number or a Florida identification card number then you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these items, you must write "none" in the box or field.
How much does it cost to register to vote?
There is no fee. Registering to vote is a privilege afforded to citizens of the United States by the Constitution of the United States.
When must I register to vote?
Florida Statutes require that you be registered 29 days prior to the election in which you wish to participate. This is also known as the book closing date. However applications are accepted at any time.
What forms do I need to register to vote?
You must complete a Florida Voter Registration Application. Identification requirements are outlined on the application. No other forms are required.
What is Absentee Voting?
Absentee voting refers to voting a ballot received by mail or picked up by or for a voter who is unable or unwilling to go to the polls to vote during early voting or Election Day. A voter does not have to be absent from the county of residence or have an excuse in order to vote absentee except on Election Day (see details below). A request covers all elections through the end of the calendar year for the second ensuing regularly scheduled general election. To receive an absentee ballot, the voter or authorized person must contact his or her county Supervisor of Elections.
What is Early Voting?
Early Voting is defined as "casting a ballot in person prior to Election Day at a location designated by the Supervisor of Elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system." The voter uses the same type of voting equipment that is used at the polls on Election Day. In all elections when there is a state or federal office race, early voting is required. Early voting may be offered in county, municipal and other local elections.
When is Early Voting Available?
Early voting, at a minimum, must begin on the 10th day before an election that contains state or federal races and end on the 3rd day before the election, and shall be provided for no less than eight hours and no more than 12 hours per day at each site during the applicable period.
In addition, early voting may be offered at the discretion of the supervisor of elections on the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election that contains state or federal races for at least eight hours per day, but not more than 12 hours per day. Supervisors of Elections designate early voting sites 30 days prior to an election.
The Supervisor of Elections may provide early voting for elections that are not held in conjunction with a state or federal election. However, the supervisor has the discretion to determine the hours of operation of early voting sites in those elections.
What does nonpartisan mean?
Nonpartisan means that you are not affiliated with any political party (major or minor).
Florida has closed primary elections. What does that mean?
This means that primary elections are party nomination elections where the parties decide who their candidate will be in the General Election. If you are a registered Democrat, you will be issued a Democratic ballot in the primary elections; if you are a registered Republican, you will be issued a Republican ballot in the primary elections; if you are registered under any other party affiliation, in the primary elections you will be permitted to vote only for non-partisan candidates and issues, with one exception. A constitutional amendment was approved by the voters in 1998 which provides that "If all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, all qualified voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary elections for that office."
