Where Do I Vote in Florida?
You can use your legal name and date of birth to check your polling place.
How To Register in Florida
There are several ways to register to vote in Florida. This includes registering:
In Person
Register in person at your county supervisor of elections.
Online
You can apply to register to vote online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
At the DMV
You can register to vote at the DMV while you’re there.
By Mail
Complete and mail in a paper form to the county supervisor of elections.
When Is Florida’s Voter Registration Deadline?
You must register to vote at least 29 days before Election Day. You should submit your online registration by 11:59 p.m. on the 29th day before the election. If you miss the deadline, you can still register, but your registration won’t become active until the next election date.
Here are the specific deadlines based on how you register:
- Online: Submit your application by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern time on the 29th day before the election at the Florida Online Voter Registration System
- By mail: Your application must be postmarked by the 29th day before the election
- In person: Your county supervisor of elections office must receive your application by the close of business on the 29th day before the election
How Can I Update My Voter Registration Information?
The most convenient way to register to vote or update your registration is through the Florida Online Voter Registration System. The system allows you to submit your voter registration application online or enter your voter information into a form.
Changing Your Party Affiliation for the Primary Elections
Florida has closed primaries. This means you can only vote in a party’s primary if you’re registered with that party.
If you want to change your party affiliation to vote in an upcoming primary, you need to make that change by the 29-day registration deadline for that primary election.
What Do I Need To Bring to the Polls in Florida?
When voting, you should bring a valid photo ID with your signature. Acceptable forms of photo ID cards include:
- Florida driver’s license
- Florida identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- A U.S. passport
- Military, student, or public assistance IDs
- Identification from a retirement center or neighborhood association
- A veteran’s health ID card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm
- An employee ID from any federal, state, county, or municipal government entity
What if I Don’t Have the Right ID?
You can still cast a ballot even if you arrive at the polls without proper identification. Poll workers can give you a provisional ballot along with instructions for completing it. Your provisional ballot will be counted as long as you meet two conditions:
- You’re otherwise eligible to vote in Florida
- You cast your provisional ballot at the correct precinct
You have the right to vote using a provisional ballot. Don’t leave the polling place without casting your vote.
When you use a provisional ballot, the local canvassing board will check your eligibility to vote. They will compare your provisional ballot signature with the signature on your voter registration record. If your signatures match and you meet all the eligibility criteria to vote, the board will count your provisional ballot.
If there’s a discrepancy with your signatures, the election officials will contact you. You can correct the issue by providing a completed Provisional Ballot Cure Affidavit (available in English and Spanish) no later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.
Early Voting in Florida
If you’re registered to vote in Florida, you can cast your ballot early in any election that includes state or federal races. For local-only elections, early voting may be available. It depends on your county’s Supervisor of Elections. Voting early is a more convenient option if you can’t make it to the polls on Election Day.
When Can You Vote Early?
Every county must offer early voting from the tenth day before an election through the third day before the election. Your county’s Supervisor of Elections can expand this window. Some counties begin early voting on the fifteenth day before the election and keep locations open until the second day before the election.
Each early voting location must be open for a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 12 hours per day.
Where Can You Vote Early?
Early voting locations and hours differ by county. You can cast your ballot at any early voting site within your county. You’re not limited to your assigned Election Day polling place. To find the early voting locations and hours in your county, contact your county Supervisor of Elections or check their website.
What Do You Need To Bring?
Bring a valid photo ID that includes your signature. The same forms of identification accepted on Election Day are also accepted for early voting.
How Do I Request an Absentee Ballot in Florida?
In Florida, an absentee ballot is now commonly called a “vote-by-mail” ballot. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot in various ways:
- In a written request to the Supervisor of Elections through mail, fax, or a scanned document attached to an email
- In person at the Supervisor of Elections’ office
- Via phone to the Supervisor of Elections
When you file a vote-by-mail ballot request, you have to include the following information:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Forms of identification such as your Florida driver’s license number, Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number
- Signature
You can use the statewide request form DS-DE 160 to ask for a vote-by-mail ballot.
Important Requirements for Vote-By-Mail
Florida made significant updates to its vote-by-mail system through Senate Bill 7050 in 2023. The following are the changes made:
Your Request Expires Every Two Years
Your vote-by-mail request covers all elections from the date you submit it through December 31 of the next general election year. Since general elections are held in even-numbered years (like 2024, 2026, etc.), your request will expire at the end of that year.
If you requested a ballot in 2024, that request expired on December 31, 2024. You’ll need to submit a new request to receive mailed ballots for future elections, including special elections.
You Must Include Identification Information
Every vote-by-mail request must include your Florida driver’s license number, Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Whichever number you provide must match what’s already in your county Supervisor of Elections‘ records.
Know the Request Deadlines
The deadline to request that a ballot be mailed to you is 5 p.m. on the twelfth day before an election. However, you can still pick up your ballot in person at your Supervisor of Elections office even after this deadline passes, including on Election Day itself.
If you pick up your ballot during the 10-day window right before an election, you’ll need to complete a special emergency affidavit. The affidavit will state that an emergency prevents you from voting at an early voting location or at your polling place on Election Day.
Secure Ballot Intake Stations Replaced Drop Boxes
Ballot drop boxes in Florida are now called “Secure Ballot Intake Stations.” You can find these locations at:
- All early voting locations during early voting hours
- Your county Supervisor of Elections headquarters and satellite locations, which are available during normal operating hours, stay open until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
A Supervisor of Elections employee watches each station at all times. You can check your county Supervisor of Elections website or contact their office to learn more about where to find these stations.
Who Can Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot?
You can request a vote-by-mail ballot on behalf of a voter if you fall under any of the following categories:
- A Florida voter
- The immediate family members of a Florida voter, such as the voter’s spouse, parents, children, and grandparents
- Relatives of the voter’s spouse, including parents, children, and grandparents
- The legal guardian of the voter
- The authorized representative of a voter with a disability
Once you are a registered voter, you can ask for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to you, or you can pick up the ballot in person.
What Special Accommodations Are Available in Florida?
Each of Florida’s polling places accommodates voters with disabilities. Florida laws require all polling places to provide voting accommodations for people with disabilities. For instance, they should have accessible parking spaces and at least one accessible voting system in every polling location.
People with disability are also allowed to ask for help at the polling place. You can get help voting from a friend, neighbor, or an election official. The person helping you cannot be your employer, an officer, or an agency of your labor union.
Can I Bring a Sample Ballot to the Polling Place?
Yes. Florida allows voters to bring marked sample ballots as a guide when they vote. However, these sample ballots should be used exclusively for personal use and should not disturb other voters at the polling place. The voter should also not leave the sample ballot at the polling place. Your general election ballot may include candidates’ names, constitutional amendments, and any ballot measure proposals that require voter approval.
Is My Voter Registration Information Available to the Public?
Florida laws on public records are comprehensive. Some of your voter information is public. This includes your voting history. The government protects specific information from public disclosure. This includes:
- Driver’s license number
- Social Security number
- Florida identification card number
- The voter registration record of pre-registered voters
- Location of the voter’s place of registration or voter registration update
You can check the Florida Voter Guide for more details related to your voting rights.
Voter Intimidation and Other Illegal Activity
If you witness or experience any problems at the polls, it’s important to know your rights and the steps you can take.
What Counts as Illegal Activity at Polling Places?
Certain behaviors are prohibited at polling locations and may constitute voter intimidation or violations of election law:
- Blocking access to the polling place or harassing voters as they enter or exit
- Following voters or demanding to see their ballots
- Displaying campaign materials within 150 feet of the polling place entrance (the no-solicitation zone)
- Making false statements about voter eligibility or voting requirements
- Intimidating, threatening, or coercing voters
Other violations are possible.
What To Do While You’re Still at the Polls
If you encounter illegal activity or problems while voting, take action immediately:
- Report to the election officials first: Notify the clerk or supervisor at your polling place. Poll workers can address many issues on the spot and must maintain order at the polls.
- If poll workers can’t or won’t help: Contact your county Supervisor of Elections right away. You can also call the Florida Division of Elections voter assistance hotline at 1-866-308-6739 or the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for immediate assistance.
Keep your safety in mind and respect others’ privacy. Don’t take pictures of ballots.
Filing a Formal Complaint After You Leave
You should submit a written complaint to the Florida Division of Elections if you:
- Witnessed voter fraud or intimidation
- Believe an election official violated the law or abused their authority
- Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act
The Florida Division of Elections provides specific complaint forms for different types of violations. For election fraud irregularities or violations, you can contact them by phone at 877-868-3737 (toll-free) or email at OECS@dos.myflorida.com (Office of Election Crimes and Security). You can also mail written complaints to:
Division of Elections
Florida Department of State
R. A. Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
(If mailing to a specific bureau, include the name of the bureau in the mailing address.)
When filing your complaint, include as much detail as possible. It is best to add:
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Names or descriptions of individuals involved
- Names and contact information of any witnesses
- Other documentation, such as photos or videos, if available
Make sure to include your contact information.
Seeking Legal Advice To Protect Your Voting Rights
If you have been turned away from the polls, faced intimidation, or believe your voting rights have been violated, contact a civil rights attorney in Florida. An attorney can help you file complaints, challenge improper rejections of your ballot, and ensure election officials follow the law.
POLLING PLACE FINDER
