Elections 2024: How to Register to Vote in Florida

The November elections will be here before you know it. With the primary season well underway and both parties having their nominees set, it is now time to switch gears and make sure everyone is ready to head to the polls later in the year, especially in key battleground states.

From bustling cities like Miami and Tampa, to more tranquil coastal towns like St. Augustine and Jupiter, Floridians are preparing to exercise their right to vote. But whether you are a first time voter, or you're looking to update your registration, don't let deadlines and requirements take you by surprise and prevent you from casting your ballot.

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states. Hence, it is important that you are aware of your community's rules and guidelines.

Here's a comprehensive guide on the steps you'll need to take to register to vote in Florida.

Voter Eligibility in Florida

Before you make any plans and start the process of registration, first make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements to register to vote in Florida.

To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the country in which they intend to vote. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.

You can retrieve registration applications at your local elections office, public assistance agencies, disability services agencies, independent living centers, military recruitment offices or public libraries.

A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.

Step-by-Step Guide to Voter Registration in Florida

Online Registration Process

If you opt to register online you can visit the official voter registration website from the state of Florida here.

To do so, you will need:

• Your Florida driver license or Florida identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
• The issued date of your Florida DL or Florida ID card.
• The last four digits of your Social Security Number.

If you do not have any of the above information, you can still use the online system to prefill a voter registration application form. However, you will have to print, sign, and mail or deliver your voter registration application to your county Supervisor of Elections.

Mail Registration Process

To register by mail, you can download this form, and mail it to you county's Supervisor of Elections office, located on the second page. A Spanish version of the form is also available here.

In-Person Registration at the Florida Election Office

Alternatively, if online or mail-in registration do not work for you, you can visit some government agencies to complete the process, such as:

• Tax collector's office that issues driver licenses of Florida identifications cards.
• Your local voting registration agency. For more information on these services, click here.

How to Update Your Registration Information

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 using any of the same methods explained above (online, mail-in or in-person).

For name and party changes, you must use either the online voter registration system or the paper form and it must include your Florida driver license number or Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

For an address change, you can use the online voter registration system or the paper form but alternatively, you may call or submit by available electronic means the change to your county Supervisor of Elections.

For more information, you can contact your county Supervisor of Elections.

Key Dates and Deadlines for Florida Voter Registration

Here are some voter registration deadlines you should be aware of:

• Deadline to register or change party affiliation for 2024 Presidential Preference Primary Election: February 20, 2024.
• Deadline to register or change party affiliation for 2024 Primary Election: July 22, 2024
• Deadline to register for 2024 General Election: October 7, 2024

The Bottom Line

Registering to vote is a relatively simple process. Before you make any plans to head to the polls ahead of the November elections, make sure you meet all the requirements and submit the necessary paperwork to be able to participate in the race.

At the same time, it is paramount that you are aware of the necessary deadlines in order to make it into the voting booths. For more information, you can contact your local county's Supervisor of Elections office or the official voter registration website of the Florida Department of State here.