Make a Voting Plan!
There are three ways to vote:
1. By mail
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by submitting his/her request no later than 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 31. Do not wait. Request your ballot early! Request your absentee ballot online:
Important information regarding your mail ballot: Your absentee ballot might need extra postage. You can hand-deliver your sealed ballot to the polls, including early voting locations, if you don’t want to risk getting the postage wrong.
You can check the status of your absentee ballot online:
2. In person, early
Orange County: Early voting in Orange County is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, Oct. 22 through Nov. 4. You may vote early at any early voting location in Orange County. To find the closest early voting location, click here. Make sure you bring proper ID, discussed below on this page. Important details about early voting in Orange County
Seminole County: Early voting in Seminole County is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, Oct. 22 through Nov. 4. You may vote early at any early voting location in Seminole County. To find the closest early voting location, click here. Make sure you bring proper ID, discussed below on this page. Important details about early voting in Seminole County
3. In person on Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 pm. Confirm your current precinct and voting location:
Things to know
Registration
Anyone age 16 or older can pre-register to vote. Encourage your teens to register now so they will be ready to vote as soon as they turn 18!
Voter ID law
When voting at any voting location, whether at an early voting site or on election day, a current and valid identification with your name, photograph and signature is required. Click here for a list of acceptable forms of identification. Note: a voter information card is NOT an accepted form of ID. If you lack a proper ID, you may have to vote on a provisional ballot.
Provisional Ballots
If your name is not in the registration book, do not leave. First, ask an elections poll worker if there is a supplemental registration list. Second, ask the election worker to call the county elections office and issue you a provisional ballot.
See your sample ballot
Ballot Length
Plan for the longest ballot in Florida history. The Ballot Amendments may be the last items to appear on your ballot but are important. Learn about the Ballot Amendments ahead of time to save time on Election Day. Note: you may bring information with you to help guide you through the voting process.
Proposed Constitutional amendments
Florida has 12 proposed Constitutional amendments on the ballot this year; numbered one through thirteen (Amendment 8 was removed by the Supreme Court). The following is the language that you will see on your ballot for each proposed amendment. The Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council supports Amendment 4, for its values of forgiveness, inclusion, and justice. We have not taken a position on any other amendments. For a more detailed explanation of each amendment, click here. Reach out to the Jewish Community Relations Council with any questions about ballot amendments or voting.
Amendment 1
Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption
Increases the homestead exemption by exempting the assessed valuation of homestead property greater than $100,000 and up to $125,000 for all levies other than school district levies. The amendment shall take effect January 1, 2019.
Amendment 2
Limitations on Property Tax Assessments
Proposes to permanently retain provisions currently in effect, which limit property tax assessment increases on specified nonhomestead real property, except for school district taxes, to 10 percent each year. If approved, the amendment removes the scheduled repeal of such provisions in 2019 and shall take effect January 1, 2019.
Amendment 3
Voter Control of Gambling in Florida
Ensures that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling by requiring that in order for casino gambling to be authorized under Florida law, it must be approved by Florida voters pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. Affects articles X and XI. Defines casino gambling and clarifies that this amendment does not conflict with federal law regarding state/tribal compacts.
Amendment 4
Voting Rights Restoration
Restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.
The Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council supports Amendment 4, for its values of forgiveness, inclusion, and justice
Amendment 5
Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize,
or Raise State Taxes or Fees
Prohibits the legislature from imposing, authorizing, or raising a state tax or fee except through legislation approved by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature in a bill containing no other subject. This proposal does not authorize a state tax or fee otherwise prohibited by the Constitution and does not apply to fees or taxes imposed or authorized to be imposed by a county, municipality, school board, or special district.
Amendment 6
Rights of Crime Victims; Judges
Creates constitutional rights for victims of crime; requires courts to facilitate victims’ rights; authorizes victims to enforce their rights throughout criminal and juvenile justice processes. Requires judges and hearing officers to independently interpret statutes and rules rather than deferring to government agency’s interpretation. Raises mandatory retirement age of state justices and judges from seventy to seventy-five years; deletes authorization to complete judicial term if one-half of term has been served by retirement age.
Amendment 7
First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits;
Public Colleges and Universities
Grants mandatory payment of death benefits and waiver of certain educational expenses to qualifying survivors of certain first responders and military members who die performing official duties. Requires supermajority votes by university trustees and state university system board of governors to raise or impose all legislatively authorized fees if law requires approval by those bodies. Establishes existing state college system as constitutional entity; provides governance structure.
Amendment 9
Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces
Prohibits drilling for the exploration or extraction of oil and natural gas beneath all state-owned waters between the mean high water line and the state’s outermost territorial boundaries. Adds use of vapor-generating electronic devices to current prohibition of tobacco smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces with exceptions; permits more restrictive local vapor ordinances.
Amendment 10
State and Local Government Structure and Operation
Requires legislature to retain department of veterans’ affairs. Ensures election of sheriffs, property appraisers, supervisors of elections, tax collectors, and clerks of court in all counties; removes county charters’ ability to abolish, change term, transfer duties, or eliminate election of these offices. Changes annual legislative session commencement date in even- numbered years from March to January; removes legislature’s authorization to fix another date. Creates office of domestic security and counterterrorism within department of law enforcement.
Amendment 11
Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statutes
Removes discriminatory language related to real property rights. Removes obsolete language repealed by voters. Deletes provision that amendment of a criminal statute will not affect prosecution or penalties for a crime committed before the amendment; retains current provision allowing prosecution of a crime committed before the repeal of a criminal statute.
Amendment 12
Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers
Expands current restrictions on lobbying for compensation by former public officers; creates restrictions on lobbying for compensation by serving public officers and former justices and judges; provides exceptions; prohibits abuse of a public position by public officers and employees to obtain a personal benefit.
Amendment 13
Ends Dog Racing
Phases out commercial dog racing in connection with wagering by 2020. Other gaming activities are not affected.
Countdown to Election Day 2018
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