Anyone who wants to vote — for president, for or against the proposed abortion-rights amendment to the Florida Constitution, on whether to legalize recreational marijuana for adults — faces a Monday deadline.
Monday, Oct. 7, is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election.
“In the state of Florida, you do have to be registered to vote 29 days before the election or you won’t be able to participate,” said Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott.
How to register
People registering online have until 11:59 p.m. and those registering at an elections office have until they close at 5 p.m.
Registration applications sent by mail will be processed if they are postmarked on or before Oct. 7, according to representatives of county elections offices and the state Division of Elections’ frequently asked questions.
One caveat about mailing the application. It’s important for someone returning an application by mail to examine it closely to make sure it’s complete. An error in an application might be impossible to correct after the deadline.
Scott said the easiest way is registering online.
People can complete the process online as long as they have a Florida driver’s license or state ID and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. People seeking to register without either of those forms will get to a point in the process where the form will have to be printed out and mailed in.
People can also download and print a registration form, or pick one up at elections branch offices, motor vehicle offices and libraries.
People registering or updating their registrations online will need their Florida driver’s license (or state ID card) or the last four digits of their Social Security number, Scott said.
In-person registration is available at supervisor of elections offices, government offices such as tax collectors that issue driver’s licenses or state ID cards, and government offices that include public assistance, public libraries or Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles driver’s license offices.
Someone renewing a driver’s license or state ID card online also can register during that process.
A person needs to be 18 to vote. But people are allowed to pre-register before turning 18.
If you’ve moved
For voters moving within Florida — say from Pompano Beach to Delray Beach — address changes can be processed after the deadline online or on the phone.
But Scott said the Oct. 7 registration deadline applies to someone who’s moved to Florida from another state. They must register to vote by the deadline, and failure to do so will make it impossible to vote.
“If you moved from another state, make sure you get registered to vote in Florida so that you can vote here,” Scott said.
People who moved from another state can “get caught off guard. They may have been registered to vote in another state and don’t realize that they have to get registered to vote in the state of Florida.”
Double-checking registration
Scott said it’s a good idea for some voters to check their registrations before the deadline.
He said new citizens, people who are voting for the first time, people who haven’t voted in the past few elections, and returning citizens (people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences) are among the groups that should check their status.
Election dates & deadlines
Register to vote: Oct. 7 — 5 p.m. in person; 11:59 p.m. online; Oct. 7 postmark.
Request mail ballot: Oct. 24 — 5 p.m.
In-person early voting: Oct. 21-Nov. 3. People can vote at any early voting site in the county in which they live. Early voting is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Return mail ballots: 7 p.m. Nov. 5. Postmarks don’t count.
Election Day: Nov. 5. Neighborhood polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Information
People can check to see if they’re registered to vote, request mail ballots and check their status, and find locations of polling places online and by phone.
Broward County: www.browardvotes.gov, 954-357-8683.
Palm Beach County: www.votepalmbeach.gov, 561-656-6200.
State Division of Elections: RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.