Florida Voting Guide

When is Florida's voter registration deadline?

Your application must be at least on its way to an official voter registration agency no later than 29 days before Election Day.

How can I update my voter registration information?

The most convenient way to update or register your voter 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.

You can also print, sign, date, and submit this form to your local county Supervisor of Elections. The online system is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It includes accessibility features for voters with disabilities and is available in English and Spanish.

You can also download the fillable Florida Voter Registration Application form. These forms are likewise available in your local public library, office of the Supervisor of Elections, or other entity authorized to issue hunting, fishing, or trapping permits.

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 scanned document attached to an email
• In person at the Supervisor of Elections’ office
• Via phone to Supervisor of Elections

When you file vote by mail ballot request, you have to include the following information:

• Your name
• Date of birth
• Address
• Florida driver’s license
• Signature

You can use the statewide request form DS-DE 160 to ask for a vote by mail ballot.

Who can request for 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

Note that voting by mail is an option when early voting or voting during election day. 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 do I need to bring to the polls in Florida?

When voting, you should bring a valid photo ID with your signature. Some of the acceptable forms of photo ID cards are as follows:

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• A U.S. passport
• A debit or credit card
• Military, student, or public assistance IDs
• Identification from a retirement center or neighborhood association
• A veteran 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

If you don't have an ID, the election official will instruct you on obtaining a provisional ballot.

How can I vote using a provisional ballot?

If you cast a provisional ballot because you do not have a valid voter ID card but are otherwise eligible to vote, you do not need further proof for your vote to count.

The local canvassing board will check your eligibility to vote by comparing your signature on your provisional ballot with your signature on the voter registration record. If your signatures match and you meet all the criteria to be eligible to vote, then 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 (English PDF or Español PDF) no later than 5 p.m. local time.

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 exclusively for personal use and not disturb other voters in the polling place. The voter should also not leave the sample ballot at the polling place.

Is my voter registration information available to the public?

Florida laws on public records are comprehensive. Some of your voter information is available for public access. This includes your voting history. The government protects specific information from public disclosure. Included among the information that the state protects are as follows:

• Driver license number
• Social Security number
• Florida identification card number
• The voter registration record of pre-registered voters
• Location of voter’s place of registration or voter registration update

You can check the Florida Voter Guide for more details related to your voting rights.

What do I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

If you see or experience election fraud or any illegal actions at the voting location, you are encouraged to submit a written report to the Florida Division of Elections. You can use the complaint forms provided by the Florida Division of Elections.

Notify the Florida Division of Election if you:

• Witness a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
• Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
• Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act

You can also contact a civil rights attorney if your voting rights have been violated.

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to protect your rights best. Consider contacting a civil rights attorney if you feel your voting rights have been violated.