If you are a resident of Florida and feel strongly about many of the political issues that face Florida and the entire nation right now – it is critical that you register to vote and make sure that your voice is heard on election night.

This article will outline everything you need to know about general voting rules and procedures.  There’s never a good excuse to remain unregistered to vote – far too many Americans lost their lives for the right.

In Florida, you can register to vote at any time.  But keep in mind that Florida maintains a book closing date for registration to vote in a particular election.  This is important for voters to realize because if you miss the closing date – you actually can’t vote in the election.  This is why it’s critical in Florida to register to vote as soon as possible.  Closing dates in Florida for 2008 are July 28, 2008 for the primary election, and October 6, 2008 for the general election.  In other words – register to vote today!

If you hope to vote in a primary, in Florida (a “closed primary state”) you must be a registered member of one of the political parties for which you intend to vote.  For example, voters registered as independent, or a member of the “Green” party, can’t vote in the Republican or Democratic primaries.  The only exception to this rule is a 1998 Florida constitutional amendment that states that if all candidates share the same party affiliation, all registered voters regardless of party can vote in the primary election.

The General Election is always held in November of even-numbered years with the Primary Election taking place 10 weeks before the General Election.  During presidential election years (every four years), the presidential primary in Florida is held in January.  Keep in mind that the presidential primary and the Primary Election are two different voting events.  So if you would like to vote in the presidential primary, you need to make sure you are registered in time.  In other words – register to vote today! 

If you are a resident of Florida but will not be in Florida during the election, you have the right to submit an absentee ballot.  To obtain an absentee ballot, simply contact the Florida Supervisor of Elections either in person, in writing, or over the phone and request a ballot.  If you are mailing your request, make sure to include all relevant information including:

It’s very important to include all of the required information or your request can be denied.  After you send in your request, make sure to call the office to follow-up with the process. Don’t assume that you will receive your ballot until you’ve received confirmation back in writing.

Keep in mind that if you ever move and have a change of address to another county, you need to fill out a Florida Voter Registration Application again to provide notice of your new address.  This application can also be obtained from the Supervisor of Elections.  It is important to have your correct address on file because Florida law requires you to vote in the precinct where you live.  If you go to the wrong precinct, you won’t be allowed to vote.  Make sure you are well aware of the correct precinct long before election night so that you don’t run into any problems.

Remember, voting is a right and not a privilege, so no one can stop you from voting.  However, you still need to obey Florida voting laws in order to enjoy that right.  The laws are in place in order to keep elections fair for all candidates.  So make sure that you understand these rules, register early, and on election night – make your voice heard!