Voter Registration Drives
(Updated October 20, 2009)

Since the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 a Deputy Registrar is no longer needed to officially swear in a person registering to vote. Consequently, the number of organizations involved in the process of registering new voters has significantly increased. The Supervisor of Elections office is eager to assist those who wish to conduct a voter registration drive by providing the knowledge necessary to have a successful event. Upon request, the Department of Elections will provide training and an array of materials to support your volunteer efforts.

What is a Third-Party Voter Registration Organization?

A third-party voter registration organization is any person, entity, or organization that solicits or collects voter registration applications, but does not include:

• a person who seeks only to register to vote or collect a voter registration application from that person's spouse, child, or parent; or

• a person engaged in registering to vote or collecting voter registration applications as an employee or agent of the Division of Elections, Supervisor of Elections, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or an official voter registration agency as per   F.S. 97.021(36)

Conducting Voter Registration Drives

Pursuant to section 97.0575, Florida Statutes, which states that prior to engaging in any voter registration activities, a third-party voter registration organization "shall submit" a form (now, by rule, Form DS-DE 106) to the Division of Elections listing its registered agent and its operating officers.  No civil or criminal penalties exist for the failure of any third-party registration organization to comply with the statute or rule.  A third-party voter registration organization's compliance with the statute, however, can reduce any fine imposed against the organization by 75%. A third-party voter registration organization that collects voter registration applications serves as a fiduciary to the applicant, ensuring that any voter registration application entrusted to the third-party voter registration organization, irrespective of party affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender shall be promptly delivered to the Division or the Supervisor of Elections. (97.0575(3))

To learn more about Florida Statute 97.0575, go to the following link: Guidelines of a Third-Party Voter Registration Organization.

We encourage third-party voter registration organizations to comply with the statute. The "Third-Party Voter Registration Organization Form" is available in our office or you may access this information from the Division of Elections website, http://election.dos.state.fl.us/forms/index.shtml.

Responsibilities of a Registration Drive Leader

• When registering voters in the State of Florida, a registrant must:
  
1. Be at least 18 years of age; (A person who is otherwise qualified may pre-register on or after that person’s 16th birthday and may vote in any election occurring on or after that person’s 18th birthday.)
2. Be a citizen of the United States;
3. Be a legal resident of the State of Florida;
4. Be a legal resident of the county in which that person seeks to be registered; and registers pursuant to the Florida Election Code.

NOTE: The following persons, who might be otherwise qualified, are not entitled to register or vote:

• A person who has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in this or any other state and who has not had his or her right to vote restored pursuant to law.
• A person who has been convicted of any felony by any court of record and who has not had his or her right to vote restored pursuant to law.
  
  

• When individuals fill out the voter registration application, extra attention should be given to the shaded boxes; these are required fields and must be completed for the registration to be valid.  Please review the application while the person is still in your presence to make sure that all required fields have been completed.  Incomplete applications can cause delays in the registrant's application process, thus missing registration deadlines that could potentially affect voter eligibility on Election Day.

• Submitting completed applications to the Supervisor of Elections office:
  Drive leaders are entrusted by the registrant to return completed applications to the office in a timely manner.  Completed applications can be mailed or hand delivered to the Supervisor of Elections office, Attn: Voter Education. 
  
  Completed applications cannot be faxed as an original signature from the voter is required in order to process the application.  Once the applications are processed, voters should expect to receive a voter information card in the mail in approximately 3-4 weeks.

Other Voter Registration Drive Tips and Information

• Voter Registration deadlines:
  Florida residents must be registered to vote at least 29 days before an election to be eligible to vote in that election.  If the application contains all the required information, the date the application is received in our office, or the postmark date, will be the effective date of registration.  Applications cannot be faxed as an original signature from the voter is required in order to process the application.

• Florida is a Closed Primary State:
  Since Florida is a closed primary state, a voter must designate a party affiliation if the voter wants to vote for a party candidate in a primary election. Regardless of party affiliation, all registered voters can vote on issues and non-partisan candidates.  Registrants are not required to designate party affiliation in order for a registration to be complete.

• Uses of the Florida Voter Registration Application:
  The Florida Voter Registration Application is not only used for new registrations, but also for voters to make address, party and name changes, signature updates and for requesting a duplicate voter information card.

• Minor Political Party Affiliations:
  For a current listing of minor political party affiliations, click here.

• Quantity of Applications:
  Registration drive leaders can be provided with a maximum of 250 voter registration applications from the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections office.
  
  Should larger quantities of applications be needed, please contact the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, Bureau of Voter Registration Services, NVRA Coordinator: 500 South Bronough Street, Room 316, R.A. Gray Building, Tallahassee, Florida  32399-0250.  Phone#: 850-245-6290; FAX#850-245-6291 or e-mail: sstill@dos.state.fl.us.

Questions?

Groups and organizations may request more information by e-mail or by calling the Voter Education & Public Information Division at:
(386) 254-4690 (Daytona Beach Area)
(386) 736-5930 (West Volusia Area)
(386) 423-3311 (New Smyrna Beach Area)
(386) 574-0598 ext. 5930 (Deltona/Osteen Area)

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