Voting Myths & More

Can I vote if my drivers license doesn't match my registration?
Yes. They are only checking your photo and your signature.

I registered after September 28th, can I still vote?
Yes. Check the status of your registration with the Supervisor of Elections for your county.

I'm a felon. Can I vote?
Yes. You can vote only if you have received your civil rights restoration from the Clemency Board. https://fpc.state.fl.us/Clemency.htm

Can I wear my candidate's T-shirt?
Yes. Free speech allows you to wear whatever you want to go vote. Only poll workers are not allowed to wear candidate paraphernalia.

I've seen flyers that say Election Day is November 5th, is that true?
No. Election Day is November 4th .

My house has been foreclosed. Can I still vote?
You vote in the precinct you live in on Election Day, regardless of your financial situation. If you still live in the house where you registered, vote in your assigned precinct as you normally would.

If you've moved from the address where you are registered, call the Elections Office or go online to find the polling place assigned to your new address. Go to the new polling place where you'll complete paperwork to update your record and vote. Do not cast a provisional ballot at your old precinct because it will not be counted since Florida law says provisional ballots must be cast in the precinct where you live.

If you have concerns about moving between two precincts on Election Day, early vote! While you must vote in your assigned precinct on Election Day, you can vote at any early voting site in the county - just pick the one most convenient for you. You can update the address on your registration record and vote before you leave.

I am registered in Seminole County, but just moved to Orange County. Can I still vote?
If you have moved, you must vote in the county of your new legal residence. Pull down the Florida Voter Registration application (available on any county Supervisor of Elections website), fill it out, and mail the application to the Supervisor of Elections office. You will receive a new voter registration card in the mail. If you get to the polls on Election Day and you have not notified the elections office of your move, you can still vote, but you will be asked to supply your new address information before going to the voting booth.

If I order an absentee ballot and change my mind, can I still vote at the polls?
Yes. You will be asked to surrender your mail-in/absentee ballot at the polls (whether it is marked or unmarked). Once you have surrendered your ballot to the poll-worker, you will be handed the regular paper ballot to fill out on site at the voting booth. (By the way, the deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you is October 29th.)

May I take my sample ballot and any notes with me into the voting booth?
Yes. There is no restriction on the number of support-documents or papers that you may take with you into the voting booth. Please remember to remove them when you leave the voting booth.

What if I damage my absentee/mail-in ballot: spill coffee on it? What should I do? Simply call the Supervisor of Elections office and request a replacement ballot. You may be asked to mark the damaged or mis-marked ballot with the words “spoiled” written across the back and mail it in.

I am a first-time voter: how do I know that my registration information was successfully entered into the Florida voter registration statewide database?
Once registered, you will receive a voter confirmation reply in the mail. If you have not received this, (or have lost/misplaced it), it is advisable to call and inquire. In Orange County, you can review your voter registration current status online by going to www.orangevotes2008.com . If there is a problem with your registration, the website will instruct you to call the Elections office. The League of Women Voters website, www.voteanywhere.org , makes it easy for you to contact any Supervisor of Elections office in Florida.

I did not vote in the last election. Do I need to re-register to vote?
Usually, you remain registered to vote as long as you remain at the same address and continue to receive official elections materials in the mail. If you have not voted in past election cycles, it would be a good idea to re-contact your Supervisor of Elections office and verify that your registration is still active. This can be done with a simple phone call. League Women Voters website, http://www.voteanywhere.org , can direct you to any county elections office in Florida.

Is there anything special I need to do when I mail in my absentee ballot?
Yes, postage will vary from county to county! You may need to apply extra postage, depending upon the size and weight of the ballot. Each county is different. Here is a list of approximate postage required for Central Florida counties:

Orange: 59 cents
Osceola: $1.17
Seminole: 42 cents
Brevard: 59 cents
Volusia: 42 cents
Lake: 42 cents
Flagler: 42 cents

Check League Women Voters website, http://www.voteanywhere.org , to see what your Supervisor of Elections office requires to return your absentee ballot. Important: Don’t forget to sign the back of your ballot before mailing it in! And, remember the last day to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you is Wednesday, October 29th.

Can I turn my absentee ballot in at the polls on Election Day?
Prior to November 4th, you can drop off your absentee ballot at any early voting site, if you choose. However, on Election Day, precinct poll workers cannot be responsible for your ballot and will not accept it at the polls. It is your responsibility to make sure that your ballot arrives at the Supervisor of Elections office by the November 4th, 7 p.m. deadline. Remember, postmarks do not count.

What is the latest day I can vote at Early Voting sites?
Best thing to do is check the Supervisor of Elections website for your county. You can find that website by going to http://www.voteanywhere.org . Early voting in Florida started October 20th and runs through Saturday, November 1st. You will receive the same paper ballot as you would use on Election Day, and use the same voting machines.