Voting Information
In Florida, you must register to vote before participating in an election. To register, you must be an American citizen, a Florida resident, and at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17 years old and meet the requirements, you can pre-register to vote, which will convert to active registration automatically when you turn 18. You can register online, by mail, in person, or when you get a Florida driver's license or ID card. The voter registration deadline is 29 days before an election, and the registration information is a public record except for sensitive information like Social Security number or driver's license number. Party affiliation affects the ballot you receive in the primary election, but you can vote for any candidate in the general election.
​All registered voters in Florida have the option to vote by mail in every election. To request a vote-by-mail ballot, voters can use various methods such as online, phone, in-person, or mail, and a single request is good for all elections through the end of the current election cycle. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on the 10th day before Election Day, but voters can also pick up a ballot in person up to and including Election Day. It is important for voters to make sure their registration information is up to date as vote-by-mail ballots cannot be sent by forwardable mail. To return the ballot, voters can use mail or drop off the ballot at a secure ballot intake station or at the office during business hours. A signature on the ballot envelope is important as it is used to confirm the voter's identity, and if there is a missing or mismatched signature, the voter will need to complete a Vote-By-Mail Ballot Cure Affidavit to fix the issue. If a voter requests a vote-by-mail ballot but decides to vote in-person instead, they can do so as long as they have not yet returned the vote-by-mail ballot.
In Florida, those convicted of a felony lose their right to vote, but there are several ways that their voting rights can be restored. Automatic restoration of voting rights occurs when felons complete all the terms of their sentence, including parole, probation, and payment of fines and fees, except for those convicted of murder or a sexual offense, who must seek clemency. Clemency is the process of seeking relief from punishment and restoring civil rights, including the right to vote, and is granted by the Governor and Cabinet. To determine the status of their voting rights, felons can contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the county where they were sentenced, the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Commission on Offender Review, or the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. Once their voting rights have been restored, felons can register to vote.
In Leon County, Florida, voters can access their voter information including where to vote on election day, sample ballots, upcoming elections, request a mail ballot, review/update their voter registration information, check the status of their mail ballot, and review their voting activity for the past 12 months by completing a form. However, if the voter's address is protected, they will not be able to see their information online and will need to call the office at 850-606-8683.
If you need to update your Florida voter registration record, there are several options available. You can update your registration online by visiting RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov and providing your Florida driver's license or ID card information and the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don't have a Florida driver's license or ID card, you can still update your registration online by using the system to generate a paper voter registration application that you can print and mail. You can also update your registration by mail by completing a Florida Voter Registration Application and mailing it to the Leon County Supervisor of Elections Office. Additionally, you can update your registration when you apply for or update your driver's license or ID card at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or the Leon County Tax Collector's Office.
Early Voting in Leon County is available to all registered voters, allowing them to avoid long lines and vote when and where it is most convenient for them. There are 10 early voting locations in the county that can be accessed during specific voting hours. Early Voting is open for all elections in Leon County, and the dates for the 2024 elections are listed. Registered voters must present ID to vote at an Early Voting site, and only certain individuals are allowed inside the Early Voting site during voting hours. Leon County Vote-by-Mail ballots can be dropped off at any Early Voting site, and family members can also pick up a Vote-by-Mail ballot at an Early Voting site.