Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Links:
- Questions about Voter Registration
- Questions about the Restore My Vote database
- Questions about Clemency
- Questions about the Restore My Vote Campaign
Questions about Voter Registration
Q. How do I register to vote?
A. To download the voter registration form please click here and follow the instructions provided.
You may call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. Where do I send my voter registration form?
A. You must send your completed registration form to the office of your county supervisor of elections. To get the address and contact information for your county supervisor of elections please click here. Once you are on this website, click on your county of residence.
You may call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. I am having trouble downloading the voter registration form. Is there another way for me to get it?
A. We have provided you with links to download the voter registration form here.
If all three options on this page do not work for you we suggest you contact your county supervisor of elections office to receive a printed voter registration form. To get the address and contact information for your county supervisor of elections please click here. Once you are on that website, click on your county of residence.
You may call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. Do I have to provide a copy of my identification in order to register to vote?
A. According to Florida law, if you are registering by mail, you have never voted in Florida, and you have not been issued a Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, or Social Security number, you will be required to provide additional identification prior to voting the first time. If you have been provided one of these forms of identification, you should merely have to include the identification number on your application. However, if you don't have any of these forms of identification, to ensure that you will not have problems when you go to vote you should provide a copy of the required identification below at the time you mail your voter registration application.
You may provide a current and valid copy of one of the following forms of photo identification (ID) that includes your name and picture:
- U.S. Passport
- Employee Badge or ID
- Buyers Club ID
- Debit/Credit Card
- Military ID
- Student ID
- Retirement Center ID
- Neighborhood Association ID
- Public Assistance ID
Or, you may provide a copy of one of the following documents that contains your name and current residence address:
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Government Check
- Paycheck
- Other Government Document
Or, if you are one of the following persons, you are exempt from having to provide a copy of an ID at this time. These exemptions are:
- Persons 65 years of age or older
- Persons with a temporary or permanent physical disability
- Members of the active uniformed service or merchant marine who, by reason of such active duty, are absent from the county
- Spouse or dependent of an active uniformed service member or merchant marine who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from the county
- Persons currently residing outside of the U.S. who are eligible to vote in Florida.
Q. How do I verify that I am registered to vote after I send in my form?
A. If you sent your voter registration form into your county supervisor of elections office you should receive a voter registration card in the mail at some point. However, we strongly recommend you contact your county supervisor of elections to verify that you are indeed registered to vote well before the registration deadline of 29 days before the election. To find the contact information for your county supervisor of elections please click here. Once you are on that website, click on your county of residence.
You may call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. Can I lose my right to vote if I am convicted of another felony after receiving clemency?
A. Yes, if convicted of another felony after you have received clemency, you will lose your eligibility to vote. In addition, the Clemency Rules require that to become eligible to vote again, you must go through the Clemency process again. This time, however, to gain clemency even for a non-violent crime, you must remain crime and arrest free for a period of no less than ten (10) years after completing all sentences and conditions of supervision. You may have to wait longer than 10 years for more serious crimes.
If convicted of a felony, below is the process to remove a voter from the active voting rolls after conviction of a felony:
- The Division of elections receives "credible and reliable" evidence that the person is ineligible to vote.
- The source of the information may be the County Clerk's Office, State Attorney, Office of Executive Clemency, US Attorney, etc.
- They will then gather case file information (Final Judgment case file with photograph) and send to local supervisor of elections.
- The Supervisor of Election investigates whether information is "credible and reliable."
- The County Supervisor of Election sends letter to voter informing them that unless they respond in 30 days, their name will be removed from the voter rolls.
- If the voter responds favorably (admits conviction without restoration), the name is removed.
- If the voter responds unfavorably (does not admit conviction, or admits conviction but has evidence of rights restoration), the voter is entitled to a hearing.
- If the mail is returned to County Supervisor of Election, a legal notice is advertised in the newspaper.
- If voter does not appear at hearing, then their name is removed from the eligible voter rolls.
- If voter does appear and testifies, the County Supervisor of Elections investigates and makes a final determination as to whether the voter is entitled to vote based upon "credible and reliable" evidence presented.
- Voter is removed or retained on voter roll.
- If civil rights are restored, felon must re-register to vote in Florida county where they live.
Questions about the Restore My Vote database
Q. How did you get my name and information?
A. People For the American Way Foundation has worked for months to obtain these records from several public, state sources throughout Florida. We plan to use the information that we’ve compiled to find as many of the persons listed as we can, and assist them in registering to vote if they are not registered already.
Q. Why are you asking me for my information, like contact information?
A. Throughout the steps on the Restore My Vote web site, we may ask the user to provide us with additional contact information. We need this information for a couple of different reasons: 1) Because there are roughly 250,000 names on the list, we may ask for information so we can verify that you are the right person; 2) to verify that we have your most up-to-date county of residence to ensure that your registration process goes smoothly; 3) We ask you for your current contact information because we may need to follow up with you to ensure your registration process is complete. We will not use your information for any purpose other than protecting your right to vote.
If you would like more information about the Restore My Vote program, please click here.
Questions about Clemency
Q. What is clemency?
A. Clemency is essentially the state’s forgiveness of past crimes, and the restoration of your basic civil rights including the right to vote, the right to serve on a jury, and the right to hold public office, among other rights that come with the restoration of civil rights. In addition, restoration of civil rights may allow you to be considered for certain types of employment licenses. These rights are suspended when a person is convicted of a felony.
Q. What rights are restored when I receive clemency?
A. The basic civil rights that are restored are: the right to vote, the right to serve on a jury, and the right to hold public office. In addition, restoration of civil rights may allow you to be considered for certain types of employment licenses.
Q. Who qualifies for clemency?
A. The new rules streamline the clemency process for non-violent crimes, have completed their sentences and probation, and paid victim restitution. Ex-offenders convicted of crimes that are not classified as "non-violent crimes" must apply for clemency, which is decided by the governor and at least two members of his cabinet following an investigation of each case and a hearing before the Executive Clemency Board.
For more information on the clemency process please visit the webpage for the Florida Board of Executive Clemency by clicking here.
Also, anyone needing information on the restoration of civil rights process should contact the ACLU Florida Hotline at 1-877-U-COUNT-2 or 877-826-8682 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can help you through the clemency process.
For further assistance, you may also call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786).
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. How does the clemency process work?
A. At the completion of your sentence, the Florida Department of Corrections will automatically submit an electronic application for you to the Parole Commission for eligibility review for restoration of civil rights without a hearing. Your case will be processed either as Level I (automatic approval of restoration of civil rights) or Level II (restoration of civil rights without a hearing by preliminary review list). (Please see Rules 9 and 10 of the Rules of Executive Clemency.) If determined eligible as a Level I case (automatic RCR), your name will be submitted to the Executive Clemency Board on an Executive Order for approval. Your certificate will be mailed to your last known address once the order has been signed.
If your case is determined to be a Level II (restoration of civil rights without a hearing by preliminary review list), following an investigation of your case, your name will be provided to the Executive Clemency Board for a 30-day review. If the Governor and two or more Board Members approve restoration of civil rights, a certificate will be mailed to your last known address once the order has been signed.
If you are determined ineligible by the Commission, or are not approved for restoration of civil rights by the Board, you will be notified that the restoration process may continue if you contact the Office of Executive Clemency and request a hearing and agree to participate in the investigative process. Please note, if you have been determined ineligible under Rules 9A1, 9A2, or 9A3, you will need to contact the Office of Executive Clemency once these are satisfied.
If you completed a state prison sentence or term of supervision prior to 2001 or if you served a felony sentence in a county jail or in another state, or with the federal government, you can request restoration of civil rights by contacting the Office of Executive Clemency.
For more information on the clemency process please visit the webpage for the Florida Board of Executive Clemency by clicking here.
Also, anyone needing information on the restoration of civil rights process should contact ACLU Florida Hotline at 1-877-U-COUNT-2 or 877-826-8682 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can help you through the clemency process.
Below is the contact information for the Office of Executive Clemency and the ACLU Hotline. Anyone needing information on the restoration of civil rights process should contact them.
ACLU Hotline
Former felons can call the hotline — 1-877-U-COUNT-2 or 877-826-8682 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Board of Executive Clemency
Toll Free: 1-800-435-8286
Phone: 850-488-2952
Fax: 850-488-0695
E-mail: clemencyweb@fpc.state.fl.us
If you're experiencing problems, please call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
Q. What if I meet all of the qualifications for clemency and I am not in the Restore My Vote database?
A. If you do not find your name on the Restore My Vote database, and you meet all of the qualifications listed here, it is still a possibility that you have received clemency or that you may be eligible for clemency.
If you meet all of the qualifications and you believe that you should indeed receive clemency, please contact the Florida Board of Executive Clemency (1-800-435-8286). They will have the most up-to-date information about your status.
Once you have checked with the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, if you find out that you have NOT received clemency (and you reach the qualifications for clemency), then please contact the ACLU Hotline at 1-877-U-COUNT-2 (877-826-8682). They can assist you in the clemency process.
You may also fill out the clemency application form to apply for clemency with the Florida Board of Executive Clemency. That application is available here (PDF).
For more information on the clemency process please visit the webpage for the Florida Board of Executive Clemency by clicking here.
Below is the contact information for the Office of Executive Clemency and the ACLU Hotline. Anyone needing information on the restoration of civil rights process should contact them.
ACLU Hotline
Former felons can call the hotline — 1-877-U-COUNT-2 or 877-826-8682 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Board of Executive Clemency
Toll Free: 1-800-435-8286
Phone: 850-488-2952
Fax: 850-488-0695
E-mail: clemencyweb@fpc.state.fl.us
If you're experiencing problems, please call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. Do I need an attorney to handle my application for clemency?
A. No, you do not need an attorney to represent you in the clemency process.
Q. Is there a filing fee for the clemency application process?
A. No, there is no fee involved.
Q. If adjudication of guilt was withheld in my case, do I need restoration of civil rights?
A. No. If you entered a guilty plea and adjudication, or judgment, of guilt was withheld in your case, you have not lost your civil rights, and you still have your right to vote. If you need assistance registering to vote, please call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
Q. If I receive clemency, will my record be erased?
A. No. Neither a full pardon, nor any other type of clemency, will erase or facilitate the expungement of your criminal record. You should contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at seal-expunge@fdle.state.fl.us for information on the expungement or sealing of records.
Questions about the Restore My Vote Campaign
Q. What is the Restore My Vote campaign?
A. In April of 2007, Florida took a significant step toward full democracy for ex-offenders seeking to have their right to vote restored. Governor Charlie Crist persuaded the state's Clemency Board to adopt new regulations. The new rules streamline the clemency process for ex-offenders who have committed non-violent crimes, have completed their sentences and probation, and paid victim restitution. Others must apply for clemency, which is decided by the governor and at least two members of his cabinet following an investigation of each case and a hearing before the Executive Clemency Board. For more information on the clemency process please visit the webpage for the Florida Board of Executive Clemency by clicking here.
Restore My Vote is a program to help ex-offenders who have had their civil rights restored register to vote, and to assist those who work with former nonviolent felons — religious groups, rehabilitation programs, etc. — find these potential voters and register them. We have obtained the list of the names, available through a public records request, of more than 250,000 ex-offenders who are now eligible to vote, and have built a searchable database.
If you are an ex-offender in the state of Florida and would like to know if you have received clemency, you can look up your name here or call our toll-free hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
A trained staff person will answer your call and provide information on how you can register to vote. If no one is available, leave your name and contact information, and our staff will return your call.
If you have questions not answered on this page, please call the Restore My Vote hotline at 1-877-60 RESTORE (1-877-607-3786) for assistance.
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