You may register to vote at anytime. However, you must be registered to vote in the State of Florida 29 days prior to an election to be eligible to vote. Party changes must be made 29 days prior to a Primary election. You can register to vote or update your voter information online. After completing your application, print it out and sign the application form. Please remember to mail your signed voter registration application form to the Supervisor of Election Office at P.O. Box 1496, Gainesville, Florida 32602-1496. To register in person, you can come to the Supervisor of Elections Office in the Star Garage Building at 111 S.E. 1st Avenue or you can register at a voter registration table sponsored by a civic group as part of a voter registration drive. You will also be asked if you want to register when you apply for a drivers’ license, a library card or apply for service with a public assistance agency or one which serves people with disabilities.
Mail-in registration forms are available at many locations in the county or call the Supervisor of Elections Office at (352) 374-5252. There is no charge for becoming a registered voter or for voting. Simply mail your completed application or drop it by our office.
No, you do not need to re-register every few years. Although, if you move within the county, Florida Law requires that you notify us of your change of address. If you are not sure whether you are still registered, call the Supervisor of Elections Office at (352) 374-5252.
Where you vote depends on where you live. Each precinct has its own polling place. Your voter information card has your precinct number on it and it also gives the name and location of your polling place. You may locate your precinct by checking our online precinct finder. In the event that a polling place has to be changed, a new voter information card will be mailed to you with your new polling place on it.
You are required to present picture and signature identification before voting. The following forms of photo identification are accepted at the polls:
You may use two forms of identification to meet this requirement. If you do not present proper identification, you must vote a provisional ballot.
Florida Law requires you to notify the Elections Office when you have a change of address. If you move within the county, you can call us at (352) 374-5252 to update your address. If you have moved to Alachua County from another Florida county, you will need to update your registration by submitting your change of address on a Florida Voter Registration Application Form. This is not a new registration, but a change of address within the State.
You must also update your information on a Florida Voter Registration Application Form if your name has changed, or if the appearance of your signature has changed since you registered to vote. Your absentee ballot or your petition might not count if your signature doesn’t match. You may update your signature or name online or submit a voter registration application to the Supervisor of Elections Office. You may bring or mail your application form to the Elections Office. Our office is located in the Star Garage Building at 111 S.E. 1st Avenue, Gainesville. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 1496, Gainesville, FL 32602-1496.
In practice, your residence for voting purposes is wherever you say it is, with some restrictions. You may have only one place of legal residence at any given time. If you are in the military or otherwise out of State for an extended period of time and will not be maintaining a home here, you may still keep your voter registration here, so that you have a place where you can vote. In that case, you are eligible to vote absentee and only in countywide, state and federal elections.
Yes, if you are pre-registered to vote before the registration books are closed for that election (usually about 4 weeks before the Election Day). You can register to vote anytime after you turn 16, but you can vote only after you reach 18.
No, however, Florida is a closed Primary State. You may register in the party of your choice (major or minor) or in no party at all. In a Florida Primary Election, you may vote only for candidates of the political party in which you are registered, unless all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the General Election. All registered voters may vote in non-partisan elections, on issues, and for any candidate in the General Election. Party changes must be submitted on a Florida Voter Registration Application form no later than 29 days prior to a Primary election.
You can have your name taken off the voter registration list at any time, for any reason, by coming to the Elections Office or making a written request. HOWEVER, Florida has changed its jury selection procedures so that this will no longer prevent your being called for jury duty. State jury lists are drawn from Driver's License lists. Federal Jury lists are still drawn from the Voter rolls.
Thank you so much for your interest in conducting a voter registration drive in Alachua County. Voter registration is one of the primary functions of the Supervisor of Elections. We are eager to assist anyone who wishes to conduct a voter registration drive by providing the knowledge necessary to have a successful event. Upon request, we will provide any organization with training, voter registration applications, and an array of voter educational materials to support your volunteer efforts.
For more information on conducting a voter registration drive, please call the Supervisor of Elections Office at (352) 374-5252 and ask for Kim Barton, Outreach Director.
You must request a replacement voter information card by completing a voter registration application form. Please remember to mail your signed copy to the Supervisor of Elections at P.O. Box 1496, Gainesville, FL 32602-1496 or bring it to our office located in the Star Garage, 111 S.E. 1st Avenue, Gainesville. A faxed copy of your application cannot be accepted. You may also make a request in person at the Supervisor of Elections Office or find the nearest location to pick up a voter registration application form.
If it's Election Day and you can't find your card to verify your voting precinct, you can locate your precinct by checking our online precinct finder. Photo and signature ID must be presented at the polls or you will have to vote a provisional ballot.
No, you are not automatically registered to vote just because you have a driver's license. Motor Voter is the name of the federal law that went into effect on January 1, 1995. The law is intended to require the states to follow uniform practices in registering voters and to make it as easy as possible for people to register. You can apply to register to vote or update your voter information when you apply for a new driver's license or update your driver’s license information. Also under this federal law, you may register to vote at any State agency that offers public assistance or serves people with disabilities, at any public library or at a Center for Independent Living.