Registration FAQs

Can I choose which address to use for registering?

Can I choose which address to use for registering? No. Your elected representatives are determined by your residence address, so you must use the address where you live. It is not permissible to register using a business address, a former address or at a secondary property that you own. You must register your primary address, where you live. Can I register to vote if I have a green card? No, you must be a citizen of the United States to register to vote. Do I have to be a resident of the state to register? Yes. For voter registration purposes, you qualify by living in the State of Florida and having a legal residence address. Post Office Box addresses do not qualify. We must know where you live to be placed in the proper precinct for election day. Do I have to give a political party preference? You may register as “None”, meaning that you are not registering for any party. If you do not register in a party, you can vote for non-partisan candidates only in the Primary Election. In the General Election, you may vote for any party regardless of which party you are registered under. Do you have to register prior to each election? No. Once you are registered in Florida, your name remains on the rolls until you move out of the state, are deceased, are convicted of a felony, are mentally incapacitated, or ask to have your name removed. However, if you move within the state, you are required by law to tell us about your change of address. If mail sent to you is returned to us because we do not have your correct address, a process will begin to inactivate your record and eventually remove your record from the rolls. If you're not sure whether you're still registered, you can call the Elections Office at 863-534-5888 to find out. Florida is a closed primary state. How does that affect me? Individuals who register as Democrats or Republicans can vote in their party's primary elections. These elections are held for the voters in each party to decide who their candidate will be for the General Election. Voters registered with a minor party or with no party affiliation may vote during the primary elections on non-partisan races only (judicial races, school board races, municipal races, amendments, and referenda). How can a convicted felon check to see if their voting rights have been restored? Contact the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which can assist with determining whether all terms of a sentence have been met. For more severe felonies, a felon can check with the Office of Executive Clemency Florida Commission on Offender Review. For any additional information, view the Amendment 4 FAQs. How do I register to vote? By completing a Florida Voter Registration Application form, which you can obtain in one of the following ways: Online at the Florida state website At the Supervisor of Elections Headquarters or our Operations Center By mail, call 863-534-5888, and we'll mail an application to you Print an application form (PDF) to submit to our offices Mail Your Completed and Signed Application to: Melony Bell Supervisor of Elections P.O. Box 1460 Bartow, FL 33831 Your Voter Information Card Once the elections office has processed your application, a voter information card will be mailed to you. This card not only lets you know that your application has been approved, it also includes other helpful information. The center of the card shows the Congressional, State Senate, and State House districts of the precinct in which you reside. It also shows the polling location for your residence address. This card is not required to vote. It is not an authorization to vote. State law requires that you vote in the precinct where you reside on election day. If your address has changed, call us at 863-534-5888. If I move from another county in Florida, do I have to register again? No. Voter registration is transferable from one county to another within the state. All you need to do is contact the Supervisor of Elections in your new county and notify them of your change of address. My children are going off to college. Where should they be registered to vote? Students can maintain their voter registration at their home of residence address, or they may register to vote in the jurisdiction where the school is located. Those who choose to maintain a Polk County registration will want to remember to contact our office for mail ballots at election time. What are all the political parties? Please visit the Florida Division of Elections website for a complete list of political parties. What does non-partisan mean? Non-partisan means that you or a candidate are not affiliated with any political party. This is different from Independent which is actually a minor party in Florida. Who can register to vote? Anyone who is: A U.S. citizen 18 years of age (you may pre-register starting at the age of 16) A resident of Florida and is not registered in another state Not currently adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state Not a convicted felon with his or her voting rights not having been restored according to law.