Florida Election Guide

Election 2024 Information for Winter Haven, FL

 

Voter Registration

Registration Deadline: The last day to register to vote for an election is 29 days before that election.

 

Party Affiliation: 

Florida is a closed primary state. Only voters who are registered members of political parties may vote for respective party candidates or nominees for an office in a primary election including a presidential preference primary election.

 

However, there are times when all registered voters can vote in a primary election, regardless of which major or minor political party they are registered or even if they are registered without a specific party affiliation:

 

1. If all the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner of the primary election will not face any opposition in the general election (i.e. no write-in candidates have qualified), then all registered voters can vote for any of the candidates for that office in the primary election.

2. If races for nonpartisan (i.e., free from party affiliation) judicial and school board offices, nonpartisan special districts or local referendum questions are on the primary election ballot, then all registered voters, including those without party affiliation are entitled to vote those races on the ballot.

 

At a general election, all registered voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on the ballot. If there are write-in candidates who have qualified for a particular office, a space will be left on the ballot where their name can be written.

 

Voter Registration Qualifications

Age: Must be at least 18 years old to register (You may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old)

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Must be a resident of Florida and a resident of the county in which you wish to vote in.

Mental Competency: Not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored

Felony Convictions: Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored. For more information click here



Obtaining a Voter Registration Form

Online: Click on this link

In person: Pick up a Florida voter registration application from the office of your county supervisor of elections or any local library or any entity authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to issue permits for fishing, hunting or trapping.

 

By mail/in writing: Fill out this form (Spanish) and send it completed to your local board supervisor.

 

Verifying Your Voter Registration Status

Online: Florida online voter registration verification



REQUESTING A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Deadline: 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the election.

 

You may request a vote-by-mail ballot through your county Supervisor of Elections by signed writing (e.g., mail, fax, or scanned attachment to an email),  by telephone, or in person at your Supervisor of Elections office. 

 

The voter's request must include the following information:

1. The voter's name;

2. The voter’s date of birth;

3. The voter’s address (If the request is to mail the ballot to an address other than the one on file, the request must be a signed writing. An exception exists for absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot.);

4. The voter’s signature (if the request is written).

 

A voter can designate an immediate family member (the designee's spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the designee or of the designee's spouse) or the voter's legal guardian to request the ballot on their behalf. The following additional information is required for the request if the request is made on behalf of the voter:

 

1. The requestor’s address;

2. The requestor’s driver’s license number, state identification card, or the last four digits of the elector’s social security number (if available);

3. The requestor’s relationship to the voter;

4. The requestor’s signature (if the request is written).

 

Military and overseas voting: The FPCA (Online Assistant or PDF form) is made available through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). You may also call, mail, fax, or email your County Supervisor of Elections to request a voter registration application or a vote-by-mail ballot. For more information click here.



SUBMITTING A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT

Location and time: A voter can pick up their own vote-by-mail ballot at any time once the ballot becomes available, including Election Day. However, the voted ballot must be returned and received by the Supervisor of Elections’ office no later than 7p.m. on Election Day. 

 

If the voter decides to go to the polls to vote instead of voting by mail, the voter should bring the vote-by-mail ballot (marked or not). The vote-by-mail ballot will be canceled and the voter can vote a regular ballot at the polls.

 

A vote-by-mail voter may drop off a voted vote-by-mail ballot at a designated secure drop box at early voting sites in the election. Please contact the county Supervisor of Elections or refer to their website for the location of all the vote-by-mail ballot secure drop boxes in your county.

 

Any voter who has requested a vote-by-mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through a link within the Division of Elections' Voter Information Lookup or through their county Supervisor of Elections' website.



Early Voting

Early voting is required in any election that contains a state or federal office race. The early voting period must start at least on the 10th day before the election and end on the 3rd day before the election. In addition, supervisors of elections have the option to offer more early voting on the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, or 2nd day before an election. 

 

Early voting hours must be at least eight hours but no more than 12 hours per day on each site during the applicable period.

 

Voters who want to vote early should present the following at the early voting site:

*a valid photo identification; and

*a signature identification.

 

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

The polls are open on Election Day, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Any voters waiting in line at 7:00 p.m. will have the opportunity to cast a ballot.

 

Whether during early voting or on Election Day, you will be asked to provide at the polls a valid photo ID with signature. Click here for more information.

 

You should not be turned away from the polls because you do not bring identification. If you do not have the proper identification, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. Click here for more information.



Additional Information

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org/

Voting for Persons with Disabilities: https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voting/accessible-voting-for-persons-with-disabilities/

Polling Place: Polling Place Locator. Polling places are also found by contacting your local County Supervisor of Elections

Florida voting systems and voting procedures.

 

Problems with voting: Florida HAVA Complaint Form (Spanish) or report any election fraud you are aware of.

 

Election 2024 Ballot Measures

Florida Amendment 1, Partisan School Board Elections Amendment

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan race. If this resolution is adopted, members of district school boards may not be elected on a partisan basis until the general election held in November 2026. Primary elections for purposes of nominating political party candidates to district school boards may occur before the 2026 general election.

The proposed amendment will be submitted to Florida’s electors for approval or rejection at the next general election in November 2024.

If approved by at least 60 percent of the electors voting on the measure, the amendment will go into effect on January 7, 2025.

More Information: Click Here

Florida Amendment 2, Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment

The joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to preserve hunting, fishing, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, in perpetuity as a public right. The amendment would make hunting, fishing, and the taking of fish and wildlife the preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. The amendment would not limit the authority of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The joint resolution provides that the following statement will be placed on the ballot:

RIGHT TO FISH AND HUNT.—Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.

The proposed amendment will be submitted to Florida’s electors for approval or rejection at the next general election in November 2024 or at an earlier special election if specifically scheduled by law.

If approved by the voters, this amendment will take effect January 7, 2025.

More Information: Click Here

Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative

Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.

More Information: Click Here

Florida Amendment 4, Right to Abortion Initiative

No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature's constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.

More Information: Click Here

Florida Amendment 5, Annual Inflation Adjustment for Homestead Property Tax Exemption Value Amendment

The joint resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution requiring the $25,000 of assessed value that is exempt from all ad valorem taxes other than school district taxes be adjusted annually for positive inflation growth. It would also apply to any future homestead exemption applying only to ad valorem taxes other than school district taxes.

The joint resolution will be considered by the electorate at the 2024 general election and, if approved by 60 percent of the electors voting on the measure, the joint resolution would take effect on January 1, 2025.

More Information: Click Here

Florida Amendment 6, Repeal of Public Financing for Statewide Campaigns Amendment

The bill proposes the repeal of Art. VI, s. 7, State Constitution, which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide offices who agree to campaign spending limits. As implemented by law, the campaigns that may currently receive funding are limited to campaigns for the Office of the Governor and Cabinet offices.

The proposal will be presented to the electors of Florida at the 2024 general election or at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose. Approval requires a favorable vote from at least 60 percent of the electors voting on the matter.

These provisions become law without the Governor’s signature and take effect upon a favorable vote from at least 60 percent of the electors voting on the matter at the 2024 general election or at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose.

More Information: Click Here

Your Elected Officials

Joe Biden
Democratic 
President
Kamala Harris
Democratic 
Vice President
Marco Rubio
Republican 
U.S. Senate
District Senior Seat
Rick Scott
Republican 
U.S. Senate
District Junior Seat
Scott Franklin
Republican 
U.S. House
District 18
Ron DeSantis
Republican 
Governor
Jeanette Nuñez
Republican 
Lieutenant Governor
Melony Bell
Republican 
State House
District 49
Sam Killebrew
Republican 
State House
District 48
Josie Tomkow
Republican 
State House
District 51
Ben Albritton
Republican 
State Senate
District 27
Colleen Burton
Republican 
State Senate
District 12
Ashley Moody
Republican 
Attorney General
Cord Byrd
Republican 
Secretary of State
Sherrill Norman
 
Auditor General
Jimmy Patronis
Republican 
Chief Financial Officer
Wilton Simpson
Republican 
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Manny Diaz
Republican 
Commissioner of Education
Russell Weigel
 
Financial Regulation Commissioner
Michael Yaworsky
 
Insurance Commissioner
Monesia Brown
 
State Board of Education
Esther Byrd
 
State Board of Education
Grazie Christie
 
State Board of Education
Kelly Garcia
 
State Board of Education
Ben Gibson
 
State Board of Education
MaryLynn Magar
Republican 
State Board of Education
Ryan Petty
 
State Board of Education
James Zingale
 
Executive Director of the Department of Revenue