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How to Vote in Florida’s 2024 Elections

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Important dates and election information

Key dates

  • Presidential primary: Tuesday, March 19 
  • State primary: Tuesday, Aug. 20
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Voting at a glance

  • By-mail voting: All registered voters can request a no-excuse vote-by-mail ballot. 
  • Early voting: Counties must open early in-person voting at least 10 days before Election Day, though some may open earlier. 
  • Voting at the polls: You’ll need to bring a valid form of ID with your signature, such as a current Florida driver’s license, whether you’re voting on Election Day or at an early voting location.

Voting in Florida

What to know about recent changes

Recently enacted laws may change how you vote in the 2024 elections:

  • Voters need to request vote-by-mail ballots for each calendar year. A request for a vote-by-mail ballot will cover all elections through the end of the calendar year for the next regularly scheduled general election. Once this expires, you will need to request a new vote-by-mail ballot.
  • Redistricting in 2022 may affect which candidates appear on your ballot. Litigation over the state’s congressional districts is ongoing. Check back for updates.
Early Voting Begins In Florida
A voter heads to a polling station in St. Petersburg.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Voter registration

Voters must be registered by Monday, July 22, for the state primary and by Monday, Oct. 7, for the general election.

  • Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register, check your registration status or update your registration information. You’ll need a Florida driver’s license or state-issued ID card, the issue date of your license or ID, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have the information above, you may 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.
  • 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.

Registering to vote on Election Day

Florida law does not allow registration on Election Day.

Primary voting and party affiliation

Only voters who are registered with a party may vote in that party’s primary. Local nonpartisan elections may take place at the same time, and all eligible voters can vote for those races. Contact your county supervisor of elections for more information.

Ways to vote

Requesting a vote-by-mail ballot 

Any registered voter can request a no-excuse vote-by-mail ballot. You’ll need to submit a new request each year. The deadline to request that a ballot be mailed is Thursday, Aug. 8, for the state primary and Thursday, Oct. 24, for the general election.

When making your request, include your full name, address, date of birth and Florida driver’s license or state-issued ID card — or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Written requests must include your signature.

  • By mail, fax or email: Send a letter, email, scanned attachment or fax to your county supervisor of elections asking for a vote-by-mail ballot to be sent to you. 

Find deadlines for overseas and military voters on the elections website.

You can designate an immediate family member — such as a spouse, parent or child — to request a ballot on your behalf. They’ll need to provide your information along with their name, address, relationship to you and driver’s license number.

You can also have a designee pick up your ballot if they complete a separate affidavit. Designees are limited to picking up two ballots for non-family members per election. An exception is carved out to pick up ballots for people who have disabilities.

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

Returning your vote-by-mail ballot

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 to complete and mail your ballot. Leave at least a week for your ballot to make it through the mail.

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

Voting in person before Election Day 

All counties must let voters cast ballots early and in person beginning at least 10 days before an election. The mandatory early voting periods are Saturday, Aug. 10 to Saturday, Aug. 17 for the state primary, and Saturday, Oct. 26 to Saturday, Nov. 2, for the general election.

Some counties may offer additional early voting days. Check with your county supervisor of elections for exact times and locations closer to Election Day.

Voting at the polls on Election Day

The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the state primary. You'll be allowed to cast a ballot after polls close as long as you were in line beforehand. Use the state's voter information portal for more information and to find your assigned polling place.

Voter ID requirements on Election Day 

You will need to bring a valid form of ID such as a state-issued driver’s license, military ID or a U.S. passport, whether you’re voting on Election Day or at an early voting location.

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

If you do not bring proper ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count, provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.

Voting with a disability

At least one accessible voting system is available in each polling place during early voting and on Election Day.

Voters with disabilities may receive help while voting, as long as that assistance does not come from an employer, an employer’s agent or a union official.

Voters with disabilities may also get an accessible vote-by-mail ballot. For residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes, a team from the supervisor of elections’ office can deliver ballots and supervise voting on-site at the request of their health facility’s administrator.

Visit the Florida Division of Elections website for more information.

More information about candidates and key races

Key races:

  • U.S. President
  • U.S. Senate: one seat 
  • U.S. House: 28 seats 
  • State Senate: 20 seats 
  • State House: 120 seats 

Check your local county elections office for sample ballots before elections.

Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 29, 2024. It has been updated with new information about the 2024 elections.

Michelle Tuccitto Sullo is a states writer and editor for AARP. She previously served as managing editor of the Hartford Business Journal in Connecticut and has also worked for the New Haven Register, the Connecticut Law Tribune and New Haven Biz.

Also of Interest

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