How to Register, Vote and Track Your Ballot in Florida

En español | A 2021 election law limiting drop box availability and introducing new ID requirements has been temporarily reinstated, pending the outcome of a court case. In March 2022, a judge ruled that certain aspects of the law were unconstitutional, and the state appealed that decision.

The 2022 midterms decided races for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the state legislature, among other contests. The next statewide election will be in 2024.

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• Upcoming elections: When available, information about future elections can be found on the Florida Division of Elections website.

• Voting by mail: All registered voters can request a no-excuse vote-by-mail ballot and vote from home.

• Early in-person voting: You can take your vote-by-mail ballot to a secure drop-box location or vote early and in person. Counties must open early voting at least 10 days before Election Day, though some may open them earlier.

• In-person voting on Election Day: You’ll need to bring a valid form of ID like a state-issued driver’s license, whether you’re voting on Election Day or at an early voting location.

In 2021, Florida passed a new election law limiting drop box availability and introducing new ID requirements. In March 2022, a judge ruled that certain aspects of the law are unconstitutional. The state appealed the decision, and the new law has been temporarily reinstated, pending the outcome of the case.

A new redistricting plan may impact which local candidates appear on your ballot. Florida gained a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives due to population growth in the 2020 census.

To register to vote in future elections:

• Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register, check your registration status or change your party affiliation. You’ll need a Florida driver’s license or state-issued ID card; the issued date of your license or ID; and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Otherwise you’ll need to print out and sign your registration form and mail it or take it to your county supervisor of elections.

• By mail: Print out a voter registration form, complete it and mail it to your county supervisor of elections.

• In person: Go to your county supervisor of elections office to pick up, drop off or fill out a registration form. Forms are also available at public libraries and offices authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue fishing, hunting or trapping permits.

You can check your registration status through the Florida voter information portal.

It does in a partisan primary election in Florida. Only voters who are registered with a party may vote in that party’s primary. Independent voters can only vote for nonpartisan candidates in judicial and school board elections or in races in which all candidates have the same party affiliation and won’t face any opposition in the general election.

Any registered voter can request a no-excuse vote-by-mail ballot. You’ll need to submit a new request each year.

You can request a vote-by-mail ballot online, by mail, by email, by phone, by fax or in person. When making your request, you’ll need to include your full name, address, date of birth and a copy of a valid form of ID like a driver’s license or state-issued ID card — or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

• Online: Links to ballot request forms are on most county supervisor of elections websites. In some areas, including Baker and Levy counties, you cannot submit a ballot request online.

• By mail, fax or email: Send a letter, email, scanned attachment or fax to your county supervisor of elections.

• By phone: Call your county supervisor of elections.

• In person: Visit your county supervisor of elections.

You can designate an immediate family member, such as a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling, to request a ballot on your behalf. They’ll need to supply the necessary personal information listed above as well as their own address, signature, relationship to you and a copy of a valid state-issued ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

You can also have a designee pick up your ballot if they complete a separate affidavit, though each designee is limited to picking up just two ballots other than their own and their immediate family members’ per election.

If an emergency prevents you from going to the polls on Election Day, you can sign an emergency affidavit and pick up a mail-in ballot on the day of the election.

Election officials must receive completed ballots by Election Day at 7 p.m. Ballots can be returned by mail or in person.

• By mail: Follow the instructions included with your voting materials. Leave at least a week for your ballot to make it through the mail.

• In person: Take your ballot to a secure drop box at your county supervisor of elections office or at an early voting location.

Use the state’s vote-by-mail information portal to track the status of your mail-in ballot. 

Yes. Early voting varies by county, but all counties must let voters cast ballots early and in person beginning 10 days out from Election Day and ending 3 days before. But some counties may choose to offer additional early voting days. Check with your county supervisor of elections for times and locations closer to Election Day.

You'll be allowed to vote after polls close as long as you were in line beforehand. Use the state's voter information portal to find your assigned polling place.

Yes — you’ll need to bring a valid form of ID like a state-issued driver’s license or a U.S. passport, whether you’re voting on Election Day or at an early voting location.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Nov. 14 with more information about voting in Florida. The guide was first published on July 20, 2020.

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