Voter Engagement

Prepare to Make a Plan to Vote for the 2023 Municipal Elections

Given the serious threat to progressive values across Florida, Equal Ground has begun an effort to engage the rising American Electorate through civic engagement activities with a goal to build and expand current capacity in communities of color with a specific emphasis on black voters and residents.

What Senate Bill 90 law means for Florida’s voters as of April 2022:

Requesting a Vote-by-Mail Ballot (VBM)

Whether requesting a mail ballot by phone, in writing, or in person from the county’s supervisor of elections office, a voter must now provide a Florida driver’s license, a Florida identification card number, or the last four digits of their social security number.
1. While only one form of identification is required, it’s recommended that voters provide several to ensure that the information on their VBM request can be confirmed by the election office without delays.
2. After the 2022 general elections, every voter who wishes to vote-by-mail must apply for a vote-by-mail ballot each general election.

Assistance with returning Vote by Mail Ballots

SB 90 made it a misdemeanor for someone to have in their possession ballots other than:
1. Their own;
2. Their immediate family members’ (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, spouse, siblings, and siblings of spouse);
3. Two additional ballots.

*Important: Rules for vote-by-mail ballot designees are different in Miami-Dade due to a local ordinance with additional requirements and limitations. Contact the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office at (305-499-8444) if you have questions.

Additionally, voters could find that Drop Boxes are now referred to as Secure Ballot Intake Stations because of the passage of SB524. The Drop Box provisions of SB524 are currently under effect, pending appeal.

Voters should expect that drop boxes will be less available than they were in 2020, both in terms of locations and hours, and should make a plan for how they are going to return their mail ballot if they opt to not use the postal service or it becomes too late to mail the ballots back in time.

Assistance at the polls

Voters have the right to request assistance from two election officials or anyone they would like, except their employer, an agent of the employer or a union representative.
SB90 prohibited attempts to influence voters, by anyone other than elections staff, which may have included nonpartisan activities such as offering a voter waiting in line water, food, or anything else, inside the 150 feet no electioneering zone.

While this was ruled unconstitutional by a recent court decision,“line-warming” activities are currently not permitted, pending the outcome of an appeal of the trial court decision.

Source: All Voting is Local Florida

VOTER RESOURCES

Florida's Voter Assistance Hotline is 866-308-6739 | Monday - Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Questions or need to report a problem at the polls Call 1-866-687-8683

Get free voter ID help by calling VoteRiders at 844-338-8743

Returning Citizen Voter Questions contact Florida Rights Restoration Coalition 1-877-MYVOTE-0(1-877-698-6830).