FAQ: Registering Voters, Mail Ballots, and Election Day (note: not intended for public distribution) Voter Registration Can I fill in a voter’s registration form myself? Can I add to or change the form at the request of the voter (e.g., if a voter doesn’t have his license on him when he fills out the form, and later calls with the number and asks me to fill it in)? No. You may offer assistance to voters by explaining the form to them, but each voter must fill out the information on the form himself, clearly and legibly. You may not make any mark on the form on the voter’s behalf. Can new residents who do not yet have a Florida driver’s license register to vote? Yes. If a voter does not have a Florida driver’s license or official state ID, she should include the last four digits of her social security number on the voter registration application. However, if the voter has a Florida driver’s license or official state ID, she must use that number rather than her SSN on the registration form. If the voter has a Florida driver’s license or state ID, but does not have it with her and does not know the number, she should take the form with her and fill it out once she has her license in front of her. If someone receives a letter that they are “unmatched” after October 6, can that individual still vote a regular ballot? Yes. Voters can validate an “unmatched” voter registration form even after the October 6 voter registration deadline has passed. If the voter provides a copy of his ID to the SOE at any time before Election Day, he may vote a regular ballot. Additionally, a voter may vote a regular ballot during early voting at the SOE’s office by simply showing the ID to the SOE before casting his ballot. Finally, a voter that does not provide his ID before Election Day may cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the voter provides the SOE with a copy of his ID within two days of the election (by 5 p.m.). In all cases, the voter may provide his ID to the SOE in person, by mail, by fax, or by e-mail. How can I determine whether a voter’s registration application has been verified and the voter is entitled to vote a regular ballot? The voter should receive a letter or card from the Supervisor of Elections letting her know that she is registered to vote. If the voter does not receive such a mailing, she should call the Supervisor of Elections. If a voter’s registration form comes back “unmatched,” she should receive a letter from the SOE informing her of that.
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How do I know if a felon’s rights have been restored? The Florida Parole Commission has a website to search for felons whose rights have been restored: https://fpcweb.fpc.state.fl.us/. You will need the individual’s name and date of birth or corrections ID number to perform the search. Will a voter registration form be accepted if the party identification field is not filled in? Yes. A voter registration applicant who does not fill in the party affiliation section must be registered without party affiliation. Please let your regional voter protection coordinator know if you hear the SOE is not accepting forms because they do not specify party identification. If an individual has been arrested or charged with a felony, but not yet convicted of that felony, is he eligible to register to vote? Yes. An individual does not lose her right to vote simply because she has been arrested or charged with a felony. Rather, an individual loses her right to vote only after being convicted of a felony. Voting by Mail or on Election Day Can campaign workers pick up completed absentee (mail) ballots from voters? Yes, the law allows us to pick up completed absentee ballots from voters and then mail or deliver them promptly to the Supervisor of Elections office. Be sure the ballots are in their sealed envelopes, properly signed by the voter. There is no limit on how many ballots we can pick up and deliver this way. Will absentee (mail) ballots be counted if the signature on the ballot does not match that on the voter registration records? No. An absentee ballot may be rejected if the signature on the ballot does not match that in the voter registration records. If a voter has not updated his signature in many years, he should probably do so to avoid this problem. Is there a requirement that poll workers speak languages other than English? No. Florida law does not require that poll workers be bilingual. Are police allowed inside the polls?
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Sometimes. Law enforcement officers are allowed inside a polling place with the permission of the clerk or a majority of the inspectors. Law enforcement officers are also allowed inside polling places to cast a ballot. Are people that are in line when the polls or early voting sites close entitled to vote? Yes. Under Florida law, a voter that is in line when a polling place or early voting site closes must be allowed to cast a regular ballot.
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