Voting Questions?

Links to voting resources and answers to your questions.

Key Voting Resources:

Voter Assistance & Support:

Frequently Asked Voting Questions

You can register to vote in the state of Florida if you are a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident, and at least 18 years old (you can pre-register if you are 16 or 17, but you cannot vote until you are 18). You also must not be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting, and if you have a prior felony conviction your voting rights must be restored.

Returning Citizens: 

Individuals who have been convicted of a felony are removed from the voting rolls in Florida. However, Florida voters passed the Voting Rights Restoration amendment to the Florida Constitution in 2018 (“Amendment 4”). Under this amendment, anyone who has been convicted of a felony (except for murder or felony sex offenses) has their voting rights automatically restored once they have completed all terms of their sentence. “All terms of sentence” currently includes incarceration, parole, probation and any outstanding restitution, fines, or fees that were part of the sentence.

If you have questions about your status, here is an online resource that can help: https://campaignlegal.org/restoreyourvote. You can also contact the Florida League of Women Voters for a referral to a free (pro bono) lawyer: call 407-710-5496 or email canivote@lwvfl.org.

Note: If you have a felony conviction for murder or a felony sex offense, your voting rights can only be restored by the governor through the clemency process.

You can register to vote in the following ways:

The last day you can register to vote is 29 days before the election you want to vote in. So, make sure you register or double-check your registration at least 45 days before Election Day!

You can find deadlines for upcoming elections on the Supervisor of Elections website HERE.

If you are already registered in Pinellas County, check your voter registration information HERE and follow the links on the page to update your information. See our note below about renewed FL driver licenses.

If you moved within Florida and need to change your address, you can do so online, on paper by submitting a Voter Registration form with the new information, or by contacting the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office by phone at 727-464-8683.  It’s recommended to update your address as soon as you move, but there is no deadline. You may update your address at any time, including at your NEW polling place on Election Day.

Florida is a closed primary state. If you want to change your party affiliation so you can vote in the partisan races in a party’s primary election, you need to make that change by the 29-day voter registration deadline. Use the links above. If the deadline has already passed, you can still submit an application with those changes at any time, and they’ll be applied for future elections.

If you need to update your signature, you can submit a completed paper Voter Registration form with your updated signature to the Supervisor of Elections.

Note: when you renew your Driver License or Florida ID card, be sure to update your voter information (starting in August 2024, Floridians receive a NEW number on their driver license/ID when they renew). If the number on your ID doesn’t match the number in your voter registration file it does NOT affect in-person voting or your eligibility to vote, but if may affect vote-by-mail ballot requests and signing ballot initiative petitions. To make sure the Supervisor of Elections is notified of your new ID number:

  • Select YES to update your voter registration when renewing or updating your driver license/Florida ID card at the DMV/Tax Collector’s office
  • Call your county Supervisor of Elections office to update your ID number
  • Go to RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, click “Register or Update,” and then select “Request to Replace Voter Information Card”; when prompted to enter your Florida DL or Florida ID card number, enter the NEW number, then complete the process of requesting a new card
  • Submit a paper Voter Registration Form; check the “Update or Change” box, fill the form out completely, sign, date, and mail it to your county Supervisor of Elections

You can use this handy online tool provided by the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections to make sure your voter registration is up-to-date. You can also call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at 727-464-8683.

You’ll need your first name, last name, and date of birth to look up your record in the online tool.

You will be able to see:

  • Your Voter Status
  • Mail ballot information and status
  • Your party affiliation
  • Your voting precinct
  • Your address on record

There are links on the page to update your information.

If you don’t find your record using the Pinellas County tool, use the Statewide Voting Information Look-up tool.

 Note: If your voter status says “inactive,” you can still vote! Voting or requesting a mail ballot are two of the easiest ways to make your status “active” again.

Important: Your polling place may have changed! If you plan to vote in person on Election Day, please double check your polling location.

You can enter your house number and street name in this search tool to look up your precinct information, which includes your Election Day polling place location. You can also call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at 727-464-8683. You will also find your Sample Ballot here when it is available.

If you are voting in person on Election Day, it is important that you vote in the correct polling place for your current residence. If you recently moved within Pinellas County or within Florida, you should go to the polling place for your NEW residence. You can change your address at the polls if you need to, or call the Supervisor of Elections Office to change your address in advance.

Please be aware that the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by 7 p.m. you have a right to vote.

Note: If you have a mail ballot, you cannot just drop it off at your polling place on Election Day, but you CAN exchange your mail ballot for an in-person ballot and vote in person instead.

Check the Supervisor of Elections webpage to see if Early Voting is being offered for upcoming elections. Early Voting is always available for elections that include state or federal races, but it is not always available for local elections. Early Voting days, hours, and locations can change, so check the website or call the Supervisor of Elections (727-464-8683) for the most up-to-date information!

If Early Voting is available, Pinellas County voters can go to any Early Voting location in Pinellas County, regardless of where in the county they live.

 

Yes. Florida law requires voters to present valid photo and signature identification when voting in-person during Early Voting or on Election Day. You can use one form of acceptable ID that has both your photo and your signature, or you can use two different IDs if needed (one for your photo and one for your signature).

Here’s a list of acceptable forms of identification:

  • Florida driver license
  • Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • United States passport
  • Debit or credit card
  • Military identification
  • Student identification
  • Retirement center identification
  • Neighborhood association identification
  • Public assistance identification
  • Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • License to carry a concealed weapon for firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06, F.S.
  • Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality

Important Note: Digital ID and/or photos of ID are not currently accepted as ID for voting in Florida.

The address on your ID does not need to match the address in your voter registration record. If the address doesn’t match, you may be asked to provide additional information. If you are a registered Florida voter and you recently moved within Florida, you can update your address right there at the polls if needed (as long as you are in correct polling location for your new residence).

If you are not able to provide valid ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot!

If you vote a provisional ballot be sure to ask the election workers or call the Supervisor of Elections office for information about next steps to make sure your ballot is counted. You may have to provide additional documents before 5:00pm on the Thursday after election day. If you need help making sure your provisional ballot will count, call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.

Note: On Election Day, you must vote in the correct precinct for your current residence. If you cast a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct/polling location, your vote might not be counted. You can find the correct polling place for your current residence by using the “Find Precinct” tool.

Yes! Voters with disabilities and voters who don’t speak and/or read English may request assistance in marking their choices on the ballot from two poll workers OR from any person of the voter’s choice (except for the voter’s employer or union representative).

The voter may also bring someone to the polling place with them to help them vote. The voter and the assisting individual will have to fill out a form. The person assisting does NOT need to be a registered voter or an adult.

All polling places are equipped with accessible voting machines where voters with disabilities can vote privately and independently.

Information for voters with disabilities or special needs is available at the Supervisor of Elections website or by phone at 727-464-8683.  Hearing impaired voters may contact the Supervisor of Elections via email at Election@VotePinellas.gov or through the TDD relay system at 1-800-955-8771.

If you face any problems voting, call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 727-464-8683.

If that doesn’t resolve the problem, call the nationwide non-partisan voter assistance hotline at 866-OUR VOTE.

Hotlines are available in multiple languages:

  • English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
  • Spanish: 888-Ve-Y-Vota (888-839-8682)
  • Arabic: 844-Yalla-US (844-925-5287)
  • Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE (Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali)
  • Disability Rights Florida also has a hotline at 800-342-0823

Yes! You can request an emergency mail ballot on Election Day. You can also designate someone else to pick it up for you. Be aware that this process can take a couple hours, so do it as early as possible on Election Day.

You and/or your designee will need to fill out the emergency excuse affidavit form. If you have not already requested a vote-by-mail ballot, you will also need to fill out the Statewide Vote-by-Mail Request Form.

The person picking up the ballot will have to provide a valid photo ID when picking it up.

Enter your name and birthdate in this online tool provided by the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections to see a sample ballot for your precinct.

Yes. Voters can wear political t-shirts, buttons, hats, or other paraphernalia when they go into the polling place to vote.

However, voters may NOT campaign or solicit other voters within 150 feet of the entrance to any polling place or secure ballot intake station (mail ballot drop box).

You may have to provide additional documents before 5:00pm on the Thursday after election day to make sure your ballot is counted. Call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 727-464-8683 to ask what you need to do.

If you need help with the next steps and making sure your provisional ballot will count, call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Voting By Mail

First of all, you need to register to vote. Once you’ve registered, you have five ways to request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections:

  • Online: Fill out the online Mail Ballot Request Form
  • Phone: Call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 727-464-8683
  • Email: Complete and sign this form and send a scanned copy to MailBallot@VotePinellas.gov
  • Mail: Complete and sign this form and mail it to Supervisor of Elections, 13001 Starkey Rd., Largo, FL 33773
  • In Person: At one of the three Supervisor or Elections Offices

When you request your mail ballot, you must provide:

  • Full name
  • Your residence address (Home address)
  • Address where you want the ballot to be mailed (if different from your residence)
  • Date of birth
  • Either your Florida driver’s license number, Florida ID card number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number

If you want your mail ballot to be sent to an address that is different from the address(es) that the Supervisor of Elections already has on file for you, then you MUST submit a signed, written request. Complete and sign this form and send it to the Supervisor of Elections by mail, fax or email.

We recommend you provide your phone number and/or email address with your mail ballot request so the Supervisor of Elections office can quickly contact you if there is a problem or a question.

All mail ballot requests expired on December 31, 2024 and you have to submit a new request for the 2025-2026 election cycle.

Requests to vote by mail are now only good for ONE general election cycle.  This means that vote-by-mail requests expire at the end of every even-numbered year, so you must submit a NEW mail ballot request to keep voting by mail.

You can use this online tracking tool to check if you are currently signed up to receive a mail ballot for upcoming elections. After filling in your name and date of birth, select “Upcoming Elections’” on the blue menu to see your ballot status.

Here are four things you can do to protect your mail ballot:

  • SIGN the back of your ballot envelope carefully. This signature should match the signature that the Supervisor of Elections has on file for you. If your signature has changed, or you are not sure what your signature on file looks like, see the signature question below for details on how to update your signature.
  • Return your ballot on time. Make sure that you ballot arrives to the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. (A postmark date is not enough.)
  • Track your ballot. Use this online tracking tool. After filling in your name and date of birth, select “Upcoming Elections’” on the blue menu to see your ballot status. to make sure it arrived on time and there is no problem. You can also call the Supervisor of Elections (727-464-8683) to check if your ballot was received and confirm everything is OK.
  • Fix (or “cure”) any problem with your ballot by 5 p.m. on the Thursday after Election Day. The Supervisor of Elections is legally required to notify you if there is a problem so that you can fix it. They will notify you by phone or email if they have this information on file for you. Otherwise they will notify you by mail.

You must request your vote-by-mail ballot by 5:00 p.m. on the 12th day before Election Day if you want the ballot mailed to you. However, when you factor in the time required for the ballot to get mailed to you and for you to fill it out and return it, you’ll probably need more time than that.  That’s why we recommend you request your mail ballot as soon as you decide to get one.

If you miss the deadline, you can still request a vote-by-mail ballot, but an emergency excuse affidavit may be required and you will need to go pick it up from one of the Supervisor of Elections offices:

  • 501 1st Ave N in St Petersburg
  • 315 Court St in Clearwater
  • 13001 Starkey Road in Largo

We recommend you call 727-464-8683 in advance to arrange pick up if you need to do this.

The actual process of voting by mail is very similar to the process of voting in person.

When you fill out your ballot, make sure to do the following:

  • DO use black ink.
  • DO fill in the oval next to your preferred candidate’s name
  • DON’T circle or underline your preferred candidate’s name.
  • DON’T circle or underline your preferred party’s name under the assumption that this will be counted as votes for that party’s candidates on your ballot.
  • DON’T mark the ballot outside of the ovals.

Once you have filled out your ballot, put it into the secrecy sleeve it came with, then put the ballot and secrecy sleeve inside the return envelope, and seal the envelope.

This is very important: SIGN YOUR NAME ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE. The Supervisor of Elections has said people failing to sign their envelopes is a main reason for problems with voting by mail, so this is a very simple and effective way to ensure your vote is counted.

Writing your phone number and/or email on the envelope is optional, but we recommend you include it so the Supervisor of Elections can quickly contact you if there’s a problem with your signature. Otherwise they will contact you via US mail.

Ballots for voters who live in the U.S. are mailed 40 days before Election Day, and ballots for overseas voters are mailed 45 days before Election Day.

After this, ballots are mailed out as requests are received and processed. Please note that it may take a few days for you to receive your ballot. You can track your mail ballot online to see when it has been mailed to you. Enter your name and date of birth, verify your name and address, then select “Upcoming Elections” on the blue menu.

Individuals who are blind or print impaired can request accessible vote-by-mail to mark secret, independent, and verifiable vote-by-mail ballots using a computer. Contact the Supervisor of Elections to request accessible vote-by-mail: 727-464-8683

If Election Day is 3 weeks away and you have not yet received your mail ballot, call the Supervisor of Elections at 727-464-8683. If your ballot is lost, you can request a replacement ballot. Each voter has a right to receive up to two replacement ballots, but only the first ballot received back by the Supervisor of Elections will be counted.

Ballots are NOT forwardable. If you move, be sure to update your address as soon as possible. If you don’t receive your mail ballot and suspect it may have been returned as undeliverable, we recommend that you call the Supervisor of Elections office immediately at 727-464-8683.

Once the ballots are printed, you have the option to pick up your mail ballot in person at the Supervisor of Elections office. If you need to do this, please call the Supervisor of Elections office in advance at 727-464-8683.

Your ballot must arrive at the Supervisor of Elections office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Late arrival is the number one reason that mail ballots end up not being counted.

You have three ways to get your mail ballot back to the Supervisor of Elections on time:

(1) MAIL IT: Contrary to popular belief, a postmark date is not enough. Because post offices see high volume around elections, we recommend mailing your ballot 2-3 weeks before Election Day to ensure it gets there in time and to give you plenty of time to track it (See “How do I make sure my mail ballot will be counted?” above) and resolve any issues that may arise. The earlier you mail it, the better!

(2) DROP IT OFF IN PERSON: Any time after you receive your mail ballot, you can drop it off at one of the three Supervisor of Elections offices during opening hours (generally Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Election Day 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.):

  • 501 1st Ave N in St Petersburg
  • 315 Court St in Clearwater
  • 13001 Starkey Road in Largo

Mail ballots can also be dropped off in secure ballot intake stations (previously known as “drop boxes”) at Early Voting locations and at other designated locations during specific times. Check the information sheet that comes with your mail ballot or VotePinellas.gov for locations.

On Election Day, you can only drop off your mail ballot at one of the three Supervisor of Elections offices between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. If you bring your mail ballot to your regular polling place on Election Day, you will have to exchange it and vote with an in-person ballot instead.

(3) ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO DROP IT OFF FOR YOU: You can drop off mail ballots for your spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse’s parent, spouse’s child, spouse’s grandparent, spouse’s grandchild, or spouse’s sibling. You are limited to delivering two additional ballots outside of the family members listed here.

If you have a mail ballot but you decide you want to vote in person on Election Day or during Early Voting instead, you can. It is recommended to bring your mail ballot to your polling place and give it to the poll worker. They will cancel your mail ballot and give you an in-person ballot so you can vote at the polling place.

IMPORTANT: You cannot just drop off your completed mail ballot at your polling place on Election Day.  You must either turn in your mail ballot and vote with an in-person ballot instead, or you must take your mail ballot to one of the three Supervisor of Elections offices by 7:00 p.m.

Here are some things to be aware of when voting in person after requesting a mail ballot:

  • If you’ve already filled out your mail ballot, you can take a photo of it with your phone and use it for reference in the voting booth. However, you cannot take both ballots with you into the voting booth.
  • If you show up at your polling place without your mail ballot, the poll workers will check the system or contact the Supervisor of Elections office to confirm your mail ballot has not been received by them. If that is confirmed, you’ll be given a regular in-person ballot to vote.
  • If the office cannot confirm that your mail ballot has not already been cast, you’ll still be able to vote, but you will be given a provisional ballot. Be aware that you may need to follow up to cure your ballot so that it can be counted (if this is required, the poll workers should give you instructions on what to do). This process is in place to ensure voters cannot vote twice.
    • Note: On Election Day, you must vote in the correct precinct for your current residence. If you cast a provisional ballot in the wrong precinct/polling location, your vote might not be counted. 

You can track the status of your mail ballot online by using the Track Your Ballot tool. After entering your name and date of birth, select “Upcoming Elections” on the blue menu to view the status.

If you do not see “Received” when you check the status of your ballot, you have two options:

  • You can wait a little longer. There are steps the Supervisor of Elections must take before they begin processing mail ballots. And there may be backlogs and delays in the system, which could affect the speed with which ballots are processed.
  • You can contact the Supervisor of Elections. If you mailed your ballot in a timely fashion and the status has not been updated to “Received” after 10-14 days, we suggest you call 727-464-8683 to determine your next steps.

Mail ballots marked “Received” may have that status even on Election Day. “Counted” status may appear after Election Day.

If your mail ballot arrives at the Supervisor of Elections office and there is a problem with it, the ballot tracking tool will indicate that there is a problem.

The Supervisor of Elections is legally required to notify you if there is a problem so that you can fix it. You will be notified by mail, and if you provided your phone number and/or email address on your voter registration or your ballot envelope, you will also be notified using those methods as well.  This is why we strongly recommend you include your phone number and/or email address.

If there is a problem with your mail ballot, you must fix it by 5 p.m. on the Thursday after Election Day.

No. Mail ballots cannot be forwarded.  That means you will not receive your ballot if you have not updated your mailing address.

We urge you to contact the Supervisor of Elections as soon as possible after moving to check your status, where you will find a link to update your address.

If you don’t receive your mail ballot and suspect it may have been returned as undeliverable, we recommend that you call the Supervisor of Elections office immediately at 727-464-8683.

If you requested a mail ballot and it does not arrive, you can vote in person instead at Early Voting or on Election Day. You must present photo and signature identification to vote in person. The ID you present must be valid, but it is OK if you have not yet updated the address on your ID. You can find a list of acceptable forms of ID here.

  • Early Voting: As long as your new residence is in Pinellas County and you are already registered to vote in Florida, you can go to any early voting location in Pinellas County.
  • Election Day: If you decide to vote in person on Election Day, please be sure to go to the correct polling location for your NEW address. You can update your address at the polling place, as long as you are already registered to vote in Florida. However, we recommend calling the Supervisor of Elections in advance to update your address, as doing so at a polling place on Election Day may be a stressful experience for all involved.

You have the right to request up to two replacement ballots. To request one, call the Supervisor of Elections at 727-464-8683.

Please note that if you return multiple ballots, the Supervisor of Elections will only count the first one it receives.

You can also choose to vote in-person instead at an Early Voting location or at your assigned precinct on Election Day.

When your ballot arrives at the Supervisor of Elections office, the signature on the back of the envelope will be compared to the signature that the Supervisor of Elections has on file for you.

If you registered to vote online or when you got your driver license or ID, the signature on your Florida driver license or Florida ID will be used. If you registered or updated your voter record with a paper form, the signature on the most recent paper form is used. Be aware that your signature on file is not automatically updated every time you vote, whether that’s in person or by mail, so if you want to update your signature, you must follow the process outlined below.

If you’re concerned that your signature on file may not match the signature you use, you can update your signature using the regular Voter Registration Form (English / Spanish). Mail the form to: Supervisor of Elections, 13001 Starkey Rd, Largo, FL 33773-1416

You can also go to one of the three Supervisor of Elections offices to drop off the form or update your signature in person, or you can drop the form off with the librarian at any public library.

If you need to update your signature, be sure to do so before you return your mail ballot. We recommend that you update your signature as soon as possible.

If you are notified that your ballot has a signature problem, you have until 5 p.m. on the Thursday after Election Day to resolve it. This may require you to sign and submit a signature affidavit.

The Supervisor of Elections is legally required to notify you if your ballot has a signature issue. You will be notified by mail, and if you provided your phone number and/or email address on your voter registration or your ballot envelope, you will also be notified using those methods as well.  This is why we strongly recommend you provide your phone number and/or email address on your voter registration and your ballot envelope.

Yes. Voters who have a disability may request assistance in marking their choices on their ballot. They can request assistance from any person of their choice. However, the person assisting cannot be the voter’s employer or union representative.

In Pinellas County, all voting materials must be provided in both English and Spanish. If a voter speaks another language or has barriers to reading or writing, they can also request assistance from any person of their choice, as long as the assistor is not their employer or union representative.

If you have not received your ballot, call the Supervisor of Elections office at 727-464-8683.

If your ballot has been lost in the mail, you can request a replacement ballot. You can go pick up your replacement ballot at the Supervisor of Elections office if necessary. Each voter has a right to receive up to two replacement ballots, but only the first ballot received will be counted.

You also have the option to vote in person at an Early Voting location or at your assigned precinct on Election Day.

You are only permitted to drop off mail ballots for your spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse’s parent, spouse’s child, spouse’s grandparent, spouse’s grandchild, or spouse’s sibling. You are limited to delivering two additional ballots outside of the family members listed here.

 

If you are notified that your ballot has a signature problem, you have until 5 p.m. on the Thursday after Election Day to resolve it. This may require you to sign and submit a signature affidavit.

Call the Supervisor of Elections office at 727-464-8683 to ask about next steps.