PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – WPLG President and Chief Executive Officer Bert Medina issued a Local 10 News Editorial Friday to remind South Florida residents that the registration deadline to vote in the Aug. 20 Florida primary is July 22.
Before the general election in November, Florida voters have two primaries, elections that political parties use to select the candidates or nominees. One primary was already held on March 19.
“Remember, there are new voter registration laws in the state of Florida. Even if you have previously registered, but haven’t voted in a few election cycles, you may have been purged from the voting rolls,” Medina said.
Related link: Voter information look-up database
The primary also applies to candidates for both the U.S. and Florida Congress. The general election to vote for the next president of the United States is on Nov. 5, and the voter registration deadline for that election is Oct. 7.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can vote?
To be eligible to vote, the applicant for registration has to be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident, at least 18 years old, and not be mentally incapacitated, or a convicted felon without a restoration of rights.
A military member, a military family member, or an overseas citizen can register and request an absentee ballot with the online Federal Post Card Application.
Who can’t vote?
A felony conviction in Florida for murder or a sexual offense makes a person ineligible to vote unless the State Clemency Board restores the right to vote.
How do I know if I am registered to vote?
There is a database online to look up voter information.
Can this be done online?
The voter registration process can be done online. The application requires a Florida driver’s license or identification card, the date when it was issued, and the last four digits of the Social Security Number.
When can one pre-register to vote?
Florida allows 16-year-olds to pre-register, but they won’t be allowed to vote until they are 18 years old.
Are there any restrictions to vote in the primaries?
Florida is a closed primary election state, so only voters who are registered members of political parties may vote for their party’s candidates or nominees.
Independent voters may choose which party’s primary they want to vote in.
Who handles the process?
The Supervisor of Elections in the county of residence.
Can a register by mail and cast a ballot by mail?
Yes, if done on time and there is access to the forms online, a printer, and a post office. In Florida, all registered voters are allowed to register to vote or vote by mail.
To vote: U.S. military members, military family members, and overseas citizens can register and request absentee ballot with the Federal Post Card Application as soon as possible.
If done in Miami-Dade, visit this page. If done in Broward, visit this page. If done on Monroe, visit this page.
To register: Download the form to print, fill out, and mail.
Here are the mailing dates to remember if mailing the application to register to vote in Florida:
- Applications for the March 19 presidential primary have to be postmarked by Feb. 20.
- Applications for the Aug. 20 state primary have to be postmarked by July 22.
- Applications for the Nov. 5 general election have to be postmarked by Oct. 7.
Here are the mailing addresses for Monroe, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties:
BROWARD
Broward County Elections Office
115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 102
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 33301
MIAMI-DADE
Miami-Dade County Elections Office
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW First Street
Miami, Fla., 33128
MONROE
Monroe County Elections Office
530 Whitehead Street #101
Key West, Fla., 33040-6577
Useful links
- For how to check your voter status, visit this page.
- To download the online registration form, visit this page.
- The national 27-page voter registration application with instructions for each state is available here.
- For vote-by-mail ballot information and status lookup, visit this page.
- Find your local election office by searching this database
- Visit the Florida Division of Elections page
- For more information about federal election guidelines, visit this page.
- For more information about early voting and ballot intake stations, visit this page.
Useful contacts
- For more information from the Florida Division of Elections, call 1-866-308-6739 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- For more information in Broward, call 954-357-7050
- For more information in Miami-Dade, call 305-499-8683
- For more information in Monroe, call 305-292-3416
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