FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Can anyone register to vote?
2. Where can I go to register to vote?
3. Can I pick up a form and just mail it in?
4. Do I have to re-register (a) if I haven’t voted in a long time, or (b) every time I move?
5. Do I have to choose a political party?
6. Does being "No Party Affiliation" or minor party mean I can vote for anyone in a primary?
7. What is a Universal Primary?
8. How do I change my political party?
9. My name has changed (marriage, divorce, other legal act). How do I change my name on your records?
10. How do I change my address?
11. What identification do I need to vote?
12. If my voter ID card is lost or stolen, how do I get a replacement?
13. I've moved since the last time I voted, and I forgot to change my address. Do I go to my old precinct to vote?
14. If I am unable to go to the polls on Election Day, how can I vote?
15. Can someone pick up or return an absentee ballot for me?
16. When does my absentee ballot have to be returned to your office?
17. How do voters’ names get removed and/or re-instated?
18. If I’m not currently registered, what is the registration deadline for an election?
19. Do the courts get prospective jurors’ names from voter registration rolls?
20. I’ve never voted before. Will someone show me what to do?
21. If I’m physically impaired in some way, can I bring someone with me to help me vote?
22. What happens if I make a mistake on my ballot?
23. What happens if I forget to bring my ID with me to the polls?
24. What hours are the polls open?
25. Can I just turn my voted absentee ballot in at my polling place?
26. Can I bring my children with me to the polling place?
27. How do I become a poll worker?
28. Can I change my political party at the polls?
29. Can I bring my marked sample ballot to the polls?
30. Can I still vote if I’ve been convicted of a felony?
31. How do I find out if my civil rights have been restored?
Can anyone register to vote?
If you are a legal resident of Escambia County and fulfill all the following conditions, you are eligible to register to vote in Escambia County. You must:
- Be a citizen of the United States, and
- Be 18 years of age (you may preregister once you turn 17) and
- Not have been convicted of a felony without having your civil rights restored, and
- Not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting without having your civil rights restored, and
- Disclose any prior registration in another state or Florida county in order for it to be canceled. As of January 1, 2006, voters are registered in the State of Florida, rather than the county, and any move between Florida counties is considered an address change.
Where can I go to register to vote?
There are many locations throughout the county where you can obtain a Florida Voter Registration Application. The location that can provide you with all you need to know is the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections offices located at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor. Regardless of where applications are picked up or turned in, a registration application is not valid until processed as complete by the Supervisor of Elections office. As of January 1, 2006, voter registration cards were replaced by Voter Information Cards, which may not be used for identification. To obtain a Florida Voter Registration Application:
- Complete the online application form on this website or Telephone (850) 595-3900 to have one mailed to you
- Pick one up at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor
- Pick one up at one at an alternate countywide location
Can I pick up a form and just mail it in?
Under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, prospective voters who register by mail and have never voted in the county are required to provide a copy of a current (not expired) photo identification along with their application, such as a driver’s license.
Do I have to re-register (a) if I haven’t voted in a long time, or (b) every time I move?
(a) NO, we have a permanent voter registration system. However, a voter by law is required to:
- Inform the Elections Office of any change of address within the county or state
- Respond to a request for Address Confirmation in order to keep your record current as an active voter
Do I have to choose a political party?
No, it is not required. If you do not choose a party, you will be registered as "No Party Affiliation." Voters registered as No Party Affiliation or in a minor party may not vote for major party (Democrat and Republican) candidates in a primary, but may vote on nonpartisan candidates and issues in the primary.
Does being "No Party Affiliation" or minor party mean I can vote for anyone in a primary?
No, as Florida is a closed primary state. Only the two major parties (Republican and Democrat) have primaries, which are nominating elections, and you have to be registered as a member of the party whose primary you wish to vote in. However, all voters may vote in a primary for nonpartisan races, such as school board members, judges, and referenda. The only other exception is for a Universal Primary.
What is a Universal Primary?
If in any race, only candidates of one major party have qualified, and there are no minor party, independent, or write-in candidates for the general election, that race will be on the primary ballot for ALL registered voters of the jurisdiction, regardless of party registration.
How do I change my political party?
A party change has to be submitted to the Elections Office on a Florida Voter Registration Application with your original signature.
My name has changed (marriage, divorce, other legal act). How do I change my name on your records?
A name change has to be submitted to the Elections Office on a Florida Voter Registration Application with your new name in an original signature.
How do I change my address?
Address changes can be made by just about any contact with the Elections Office -- by e-mail, fax, telephone, or in writing (on the Florida Voter Registration Form or in any written form).
What identification do I need to vote?
You must have both a photo and signature ID, which may be on one ID, such as a driver’s license or military ID (among other things), or may be two separate pieces. Click here for a link of acceptable IDs.
If my voter ID card is lost or stolen, how do I get a replacement?
A request for a duplicate card must be made to your Supervisor of Elections in writing. [Section 97.071(2) FS] Note: As of January 1, 2006, voter ID cards are no longer be issued -- they were replaced with new Voter Information Cards, which may not be used for identification.
I've moved since the last time I voted, and I forgot to change my address. Do I go to my old precinct to vote?
Call the Supervisor of Elections office or check the website to find the location of your new precinct’s polling place before you go to vote.
You may change your address at the new precinct. It is a felony to vote in a precinct in which you do not live.
If I am unable to go to the polls on Election Day, how can I vote?
You may request an absentee ballot by telephone, mail, e-mail, fax, or in person, to be sent to you or picked up by you.
Or, you may "vote early" in our office and other locations beginning 15 days prior to a regularly scheduled election.
Can someone pick up or return an absentee ballot for me?
You may designate someone to pick up a ballot for you. Your designee must provide your written authorization. Your designee must also provide photo identification. This may be done no earlier than four days before an election. You can also have someone else return your ballot.
Candidates may not pick up or return ballots for anyone except members of his/her immediate family.
When does my absentee ballot have to be returned to your office?
The ballot must be our office by 7 p.m. CST on election day in order to be counted. However, if you are overseas and voting in a federal election, your ballot must be dated by the date of the election and we must receive it within 10 days of the election for it to be counted.
How do voters names get removed and/or re-instated?
- If a voter registers in another county in Florida, the state central voter file will notify us and the registration here will be canceled.
- If a voter registers in another state and indicates his prior registration here in Florida, we will also be notified, in most cases, and your Florida registration would be canceled.
- If we receive notification from the post office that a voter’s address has changed, we will send an Address Verification card to the new address for the voter to verify the effect on his registration. If that, or any other piece of first class mail comes back to the office as Returned Undeliverable mail, we send an Address Confirmation Final Notice, and if we receive no response within 30 days, or if it comes back Undeliverable as well, the voter will be placed on Inactive status.
- Voters on the Inactive list can be re-instated by updating their voter registration, appearing to vote, or requesting an absentee ballot, provided that their status has not changed. However, after two general (federal) elections from the date the final notice was sent, all Inactive voters who show no activity will be removed from the registration records and must register again in order to vote.
If I’m not currently registered, what is the registration deadline for an election?
The registration deadline is 29 days prior to an election.
Do the courts get prospective jurors’ names from voter registration rolls?
No. The courts obtain their prospective jurors' names from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
I’ve never voted before. Will someone show me what to do?
Yes. A poll worker will offer you a demonstration on how to mark your ballot when you arrive at the polling place.
If I’m physically impaired in some way, can I bring someone with me to help me vote?
Yes, you may, but you are not required to. If you need assistance, two of our poll workers from different political parties will assist you as needed.
What happens if I make a mistake on my ballot?
Tell the poll workers you have made a mistake, and you will be issued a new ballot (up to three maximum) in exchange for your "spoiled" ballot(s).
What happens if I forget to bring my ID with me to the polls?
You are required to vote by provisional ballot if you fail to present proper ID at the polls, whether or not your name is in the precinct register.
What hours are the polls open?
The polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
Can I just turn my voted absentee ballot in at my polling place?
No, your voted absentee ballot must be turned in at our office on Palafox Place.
Can I bring my children with me to the polling place?
Yes, you may bring your children with you. We ask only that they behave appropriately. Bringing your children with you helps to educate them on the importance of voting.
How do I become a poll worker?
Click here for information on becoming a poll worker.
Can I change my political party at the polls?
No, registration books close 29 days before an election, so party changes must be done prior to the book-closing date in order to be in effect for that election.
Can I bring my marked sample ballot to the polls?
Yes, as long as you do not display it for others to see and do not leave it in the polling place. We encourage use of the sample ballot.
Can I still vote if I’ve been convicted of a felony?
Only if your civil rights have been restored.
How do I find out if my civil rights have been restored?
You may either call our office to ask for assistance or you may visit the website of the Office of Executive Clemency at https://fpc.state.fl.us/Clemency.htm for information.
Pensacola, FL 32502