PRESS RELEASE: Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd Reminds Floridians of Deadline to Register to Vote for General Election

Tallahassee –

Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd reminded Floridians that the deadline to register for the upcoming General Election is Tuesday, October 11, 2022. After meeting in-person with Supervisors of Elections in the most impacted communities, including Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto, Hardee and Hendry counties, in addition to having conversations with many others, Secretary Byrd found that Supervisors are prepared and arrangements are underway to ensure a smooth and accurate election. Further, today’s reminder follows guidance previously issued by the Department for voters and prospective voters from Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties, available here. To ensure those impacted by Hurricane Ian have access to voter registration resources, the Department and other state agency partners are working with Supervisors of Elections to ensure that voter registration resources are located at the state’s Disaster Recovery Centers.

During his meetings in Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties, the Supervisors of Elections there requested additional support from the Department of State on topics such as voting locations and pre-Election Day preparations. As such, the Department is currently contemplating possible ways to support these counties.

“If you are not registered to vote and are eligible to do so, I encourage you to register by the October 11 deadline that is fast approaching,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “There are many convenient ways to register to vote in the state of Florida. You can contact your Supervisor of Election's office to learn where you can register in person, or you can register online at RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov, the Department of State’s secure and easy to navigate website. The Department of State’s top priority this election season is to maintain the integrity of our elections so that you can exercise your right to vote.”

Voters in affected counties can find election resources on our Hurricane Ian Election Resources page.  

The Voter Assistance Hotline will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday, October 8 to Monday, October 10 and from 8 a.m. to midnight on Tuesday, October 11. Voters who have questions about how to register to vote or who need assistance using RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov can contact the Voter Assistance Hotline at 1-866-308-6739 or [email protected].

Floridians can register to vote or update their existing registration through the Department’s online voter registration website RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov. Users will need their Florida driver license or Florida identification card and the last four digits of their social security number. In order to verify a user’s identity, the information typed into the online voter registration website must exactly match the information that appears on his or her most recent Florida driver license or state identification card. Florida residents also have the option to use the website to complete, print and sign a paper application that can be mailed or hand-delivered to their local Supervisor of Elections.

In addition to RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov, there are several other ways eligible Floridians can register to vote. Eligible Floridians can apply through:

• Any Supervisor of Elections office;
• Any office, including a tax collector’s office, that issues driver licenses or Florida identification cards;
• The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ online website for renewing a driver license or state identification card; and
• Any voter registration agency such as a public assistance office or public library.

In order to be able to vote in the upcoming General Election, new voter registration applications must be submitted by the October 11 voter registration deadline. Online voter registration applications must be submitted through RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 11. Paper applications must be received by close of business at a Supervisor of Elections’ office or if sent by mail, post-marked by October 11.

Florida residents can check their current voter registration status by using the Department’s Voter Information Lookup tool. The Voter Information Lookup tool can also be used to find your polling place, obtain your sample ballot and check your vote-by-mail ballot status.

All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation or no party affiliation, may exercise their right to vote for candidates and public measures on the General Election ballot. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

For more information, please visit the Division of Elections’ website at dos.myflorida.com/elections.

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About the Division of Elections
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections supports the Secretary of State, Florida’s chief election officer, in ensuring that Florida has fair and accurate elections. The Division’s three bureaus: Bureau of Election Records, Bureau of Voter Registration Services, and Bureau of Voting Systems Certification, have several responsibilities in the areas of legal compliance and elections administration to ensure that Florida’s election laws are uniformly interpreted and implemented. The Division also assists local Supervisors of Elections in their duties and promotes enhanced public awareness and participation in the electoral process. For more information about Florida’s elections, visit dos.myflorida.com/elections.