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You may register to vote if you are:
- a citizen of the United States
- 18 years of age (you may pre-register if
you are 17 years of age)
- a resident of DeSoto County, Florida
- not currently adjudicated mentally
incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other
state
- not a convicted felon without your civil
rights having been restored pursuant to law
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Can I choose which address to use for registering?
No. Because your elected representatives are determined by your
residence address, you must use the address where you live. It is
not permissible to register using a business address, a former
address or at a piece of property that you simply own. You must
register where you live.
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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.
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What are the major political parties in the state of Florida?
Democrat and Republican.
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Do I have to be a resident of the state to register?
Yes. For voter registration purposes, you qualify to register by
living in the county with a street or rural address. Post Office Box
addresses do not qualify. We must know where you live so you are
placed in the proper precinct for election day.
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Do I have to register prior to each election?
No. Once you become a registered voter in DeSoto County, your name
will remain on our records until such time as we receive
notification that you have moved from this county or that you have
lost your civil rights.
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Florida has closed primary elections. What does that mean?
This means that primary elections are party nomination elections
where the parties decide who their candidate will be in the General
Election. If you are a registered Democrat, you will be issued a
Democratic ballot in the primary elections; if you are a registered
Republican, you will be issued a Republican ballot in the primary
elections; if you are registered under any other party affiliation,
in the primary elections you will be permitted to vote only for
non-partisan candidates and issues with one exception. A
constitutional amendment was approved by the voters in 1998 which
provides that "If all candidates for an office have the same
party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the
general election, all qualified voters, regardless of party
affiliation, may vote in the primary elections for that
office".
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How can I change my party affiliation?
You may change your party affiliation by completing a Florida Voter
Registration Application form, writing our office or visiting our office. It is important for you
to know that a change to your party affiliation must be done 29 days
before the first primary election (book closing date). Requests for
party affiliation changes which are received after the book closing
date for the first primary election cannot be changed until after
the second primary election.
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How do I become a Florida resident?
While this question sounds complicated, it’s really very simple.
If you live in Florida and you intend for this to be your legal
residence, you are a Florida resident.
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How do I find out if my civil rights have been restored?
You can contact the Office of Executive Clemency (850) 488-2952,
2601 Blairstone Road, Building C, Room 229, Tallahassee, FL
32399-2450.
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How do I register to vote?
A Florida Voter Registration Application form should be offered to
you at any of Florida’s mandated sites:
- Department of Health and Rehabilitative
Services
- Food Stamp Offices
- Medicaid Offices
- WIC Offices (Special Supplemental
Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
- AFDC Offices (Aid to Families
with Dependent Children)
- Developmental Services Program
Offices
- Florida State Mental Hospitals
- Department of Labor
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Division of Workers’ Compensation
- Department of Education
- Division of Blind Services
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- Centers for Independent Living
- Public Libraries
- Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles
- Driver Licenses Offices
- United States Armed Forces Recruiting
Offices
- Any Supervisor of Elections Office
You may also request that a registration
application be mailed to you by calling us at 863-993-4871 or you
may request
a registration application online.
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How much does it cost to register to vote?
There is no fee. Registering to vote is a privilege afforded to
citizens of the United States by the Constitution of the United
States.
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How will I know that I am a registered voter in DeSoto County?
After your Florida Voter Registration Application has been accepted
and approved as being complete, a voter identification card will be
issued and mailed to you. Your voter identification card, when
signed on the back, may be used as identification at your polling
place on election day along with your photo identification; however, it is not required nor is it
authorization to vote. The card designates your precinct number, the
district number for your member of Congress in Washington, your
State Senator and your State Representative. Also shown are the
district numbers for your County Commissioner and School Board
Member. You must be registered and vote in the precinct in which you
live on election day.
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If I move from one county to another county in Florida, do I have
to register again?
Yes. There are no provisions in the Florida Statutes which permit us
to transfer your voter registration. You must register each time you
move to a new county in Florida.
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I have been convicted of a felony but have served my time. Can I
register to vote?
Yes, if your civil rights have been restored.
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I have been convicted of speeding and DUI. Are these felonies?
You can contact the Clerk of Court for the county where you were
convicted for an answer to this question.
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I have lost my voter identification card. How do I get another
one?
You may request a "Replacement" by completing a Florida
Voter Registration application form or writing our office.
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I live in two different states. Is it okay for me to register
here?
Yes, but you can’t be registered in two places at one time. You
must decide in which state you want to be registered.
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My children are going to leave DeSoto County to attend college.
Where should they register to vote?
Students may maintain their voter registration at their DeSoto
County residence address or they may elect to register to vote in
the jurisdiction where the school is located. Those who choose to
maintain their registration in DeSoto County should remember to
contact our office to request absentee ballots in an election year.
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What are the recognized minor political parties in the state of
Florida?
Several minor
parties are listed with the Division of Elections.
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What does nonpartisan mean?
Nonpartisan means that you are not affiliated with any political
party (major or minor).
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What do I need to take to my polling place on election day?
You will be requested to provide an acceptable form of
identification which contains your photograph and signature. Your
Florida driver's license is the best document to take to your
polling place. If you are unable to provide a form of
identification, you will be required to complete a Voter Without
Identification Affirmation.
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What forms do I need to register to vote?
No identification or forms are required.
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When must I register to vote?
Florida Statutes require that you be registered 29 days prior to the
election in which you wish to participate. This is also known as
"book closing" date.
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Where will I vote on election day?
Your precinct number is printed on your voter identification card. Polling
place locations are advertised in the newspaper on Sunday prior
to election day.
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What do I do if I am a registered voter in DeSoto County and need
to make a change on my registration records?
It is important that you notify our office of any change in your
name, party affiliation or residence address within DeSoto County.
Florida Statutes requires notification in writing, of name and party change. Address changes may
be done in writing, or by telephone. This will keep your
registration in an active status and will eliminate confusion and
delay for you on election day. If, on election day, you discover
that you have not notified us of your new address, you may call our
office at 863-993-4871 to obtain the location of your polling place.
You will be required to complete an Address Change Affirmation form
at your new polling place location; therefore, you can expect to
spend extra time at the polls. It is important for you to know that
it is a felony to vote in a precinct in which you do not live on
election day.
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