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Voter Toolkit

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Here are some last-minute reminders and frequently asked questions as we approach Election Day on Tuesday, November 8:

How should I return my vote-by-mail ballot this close to election day?

Regardless of postmark, ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. Therefore — at this late date — if you still have you vote-by-mail ballot you should not put it back in the mail. 

Instead, vote-by-mail ballots may be deposited into:

• secure drop boxes at any early voting location during the hours early voting is open, or

• secure drop boxes at your county’s supervisor of elections‘ main and branch offices until 7 p.m. (local time) on Election Day.

Be sure to sign and date the ballot where it requires!

What if I change my mind about voting by mail and want to vote in person?

A voter who has requested a ballot may change his or her mind and vote in person — either early or on election day.

How can I track my vote-by-mail ballot?

Visit the Vote-by-Mail status lookup page on your local supervisor of elections website.

I’ve tracked my vote-by-mail ballot, but there’s a problem. What do I Do?

If there is an issue with a missing or mismatched signature, please contact your local supervisor of elections immediately. Voters would need to cure their ballot with their elections office no later than 5 pm on Nov. 10.

I’m going to vote in-person on Tuesday, November 8. Where do i vote?

Visit your local Supervisor of Elections website to find your Election Day (November 8) polling location.

What do I do if i’m in line to vote when polls close at 7 p.m.?

The polls are open on Election Day, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Any voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to cast a ballot.

Important reminder about returning your vote-by-mail ballot

To ensure your ballot arrives in time, we recommend that you drop off your ballot off at the supervisor of elections' (SOE) office or a secure dropbox location after October 25. (Find your SOE here.)

The 2022 election is underway now through Nov. 8, and education is on the ballot. It is essential that candidates who support public education are elected at all levels of government. 

The good news? FEA members vote at a higher rate than the average Floridian.

The even better news? Parents and voters trust what teachers and education staff professionals say is best for our public schools. They know that educators, not politicians, should be making classroom decisions to ensure student success.

FEA members are making many important decisions on the 2022 ballot that will affect our students, our schools and our communities for years. On this page we’ve collected resources to help you make those decisions.

If you still have a vote-by-mail ballot you should not put it back in the mail. Take your voted ballot to any one of your county’s early vote locations and put it in a secure VBM drop box (be sure to sign and date the ballot where it requires)! Visit DeliverYourVote.com for a full list of drop off locations (en español).

Or vote in person on Tuesday, November 3.

Want to track your mail ballot? Visit MakeAPlanToVote.com/check  to track your mail ballot throughout the process.

2022 Election Dates

2022 General Election

Sept. 29Vote-by-Mail begins*
Oct. 11Voter registration deadline
Oct. 29Early voting begins^
Nov. 5Early voting ends^
Nov. 8General Election Day

* County elections officials may start sending ballots on the date shown. They will continue to send ballots up until the Friday before Election Day. Check with your county election officials for a more specific schedule.

^ Some counties will offer additional days of early voting starting Oct. 24 and ending on Nov. 6. Check with your county election officials for a more specific schedule and a list of early voting sites.

Make a Plan to Vote

1. Check your voter registration

To avoid problems at the polls, FEA is urging all union members to regularly check and update their voter status before the registration deadlines for the 2022 elections (see above).

Checking your voter status is easy and can be done online through:

If you are not able to find your information, contact your county Supervisor of Elections office or call the Division of Elections’ Voter Assistance hotline at (866) 308-6739 to report the problem.

2. Decide how you will vote

A. Return your Vote-by-Mail ballot

If you requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot before the Oct. 29 deadline, be sure to return your ballot as soon as possible. FEA recommends that ballots no longer be returned by mail after Tuesday, Oct 25.

Instead you can drop off your completed ballot at your local supervisor of elections office or in a designated dropbox.

To find out where you can return your ballot, visit the Division of Elections or your local Supervisor of Elections office.

B. Early voting

More and more voters are choosing to vote during early voting weeks. You can find out when and where early voting is taking place by visiting your local Supervisor of Elections office.

C. Voting on Election Day

You can find information on your polling location at your local Supervisor of Elections office.

The polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Any voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to cast a ballot.

At your designated polling location, you will be asked to provide a valid photo ID with signature. Any one of the following photo IDs will be accepted:

  • Florida driver’s license or ID card
  • United States passport
  • Debit or credit card
  • Military identification
  • Student identification
  • Retirement center identification
  • Neighborhood association identification
  • Public assistance identification
  • Veteran health identification card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
  • Government employee identification card

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

FEA’s Voter Guide

FEA endorsed candidates

The Florida Education Association makes candidate endorsements utilizing research, local input and a democratic process. The endorsements are based upon education issues.

Candidate endorsements are based upon a commitment to our neighborhood public schools, colleges and universities, our students and to the people who work in public education.

How you vote is a personal decision. As an educator, exercising your right and responsibility to vote is paramount duty to your students and your community. When educators vote, students win!

To find which Congressional, Florida House or Florida Senate district you live in please (1) refer to your voter registration card or (2) contact your local Supervisor of Elections office.

Florida Governor
(Endorsement for Nov. 8 General Election)

Along with the Florida AFL-CIO, the Florida Education Association endorses Charlie Crist as the next governor of Florida. Throughout his political career, Crist has been a strong supporter of Florida’s students and public schools. As governor, he stood up to defend teachers from destructive legislation affecting their salaries, evaluations and job security, vetoing SB 6 in 2010. A year later, the changes in SB 6 passed and became law, setting Florida on the path toward the massive teacher shortage that we see today.    

After he is elected as governor this fall, Crist pledges to fully fund public schools to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed. To address staffing shortages, Crist will: 

  • Fight to increase average teacher salaries, for both new teachers and for the experienced educators who have been penalized under current laws affecting pay. 
  • Increase educator retention by allowing experienced teachers to earn multi-year contracts instead of facing termination annually.
  • Take practical steps to strengthen the teacher pipeline so that our districts can recruit more educators.
  • Value teachers and support staff, and work to develop policies that recognize their worth. 

Local School Boards run-offs (Endorsements for Nov. 8 General Election)

Candidates listed in bold are endorsed.

CountyCandidate(s) and District(s)
BrevardErin Dunne (District 2)
BrowardRodney Velez (District 1), Jeff Holness (District 5), Steve Julian (District 6), Donna Korn (District 8)
CollierJoy Westberry (District 1), Jen Mitchell (District 3), Roy Terry (District 5)
FlaglerCourtney VandeBunte (District 2)
HernandoKay Hatch (District 1), Susan Duval (District 5)
Indian RiverCindy Gibbs (District 2)
LakeTyler Brandeburg (District 2)
LeeKathy Fanny (District 1), Debra Jordan (District 4)
LeonAlexander Stemle (District 4)
ManateeHarold Byrd (District 2)
NassauShannon Hogue (District 1), Curtis Gaus (District 3)
OrangeHeather Ashby (District 2), Michael Daniels (District 3)
OsceolaWill Fonseca (District 4)
PascoJames Washington (District 1)
Palm BeachMarcia Andrews (District 6), Edwin Ferguson (District 7)
PinellasDr. Keesha Benson (District 3), Brian Martin (District 6)
PolkLisa Miller (District 7)
SeminoleAutumn Garick (District 5)
St. JohnsLauren Abell (District 3)

Local School Funding Referendums

(Endorsements for Nov. 8 General Election)

Referendums listed in bold are endorsed.

CountyRenewal or NewPrimary OnlyIntended Use
BrevardNewSalaries
CharlotteRenewalSalaries and Operations
ClayRenewalSchool Safety
ColumbiaNewSchool Operations
FlaglerRenewalSchool Operations
FranklinRenewals (2 referenda)Salaries; School Operations
LakeRenewalSafety
LibertyNewSchool Operations
MarionRenewalSchool Operations
Miami-DadeRenewalSalaries
NassauNewSalaries
Palm BeachRenewalSalaries
St. LucieRenewalSalaries
TaylorRenewalSchool Operations
WakullaNewSchool Safety, Security, and Operations

Florida Senate

Candidates listed in bold are endorsed in the Nov. 8 General Election.

DistrictCandidatePrimary OnlyPrimary Notes
SD 1No action taken
SD 2No action taken
SD 3Loranne Ausely
SD 4No action taken
SD 5Tracie Davis
SD 6Elected without opposition
SD 7No action taken
SD 8No action taken
SD 9No action taken
SD 10Joy Goff-Marcil
SD 11No action taken
SD 12No action taken
SD 13No action taken
SD 14Janet Cruz
SD 15Race decided in Primary, No general election
SD 16Darryl Rouson
SD 17Linda Stewart
SD 18Eunic Ortiz
SD 19Elected without opposition
SD 20Race decided in Primary, No general election
SD 21Ed Hooper
SD 22Joe Gruterselected in Primary - no general election
SD 23No action taken
SD 24Bobby Powell Jr
SD 25Victor Torres Jr
SD 26Lori Berman
SD 27No action taken
SD 28Elected without opposition
SD 29Elected without opposition
SD 30Tina Polsky
SD 31Elected without opposition
SD 32Rosalind Osgoodelected without opposition
SD 33No action taken
SD 34Shevrin Joneselected in Primary - no general election
SD 35Lauren Bookelected in Primary - no general election
SD 36No action taken
SD 37Jason Pizzoelected without opposition
SD 38Janelle Perez
SD 39Elected without opposition
SD 40Elected without opposition

Florida House of Representatives

Candidates listed in bold are endorsed in the Nov. 8 General Election.

DistrictCandidatePrimary OnlyNotes
HD 1No action taken
HD 2No action taken
HD 3No action taken
HD 4Elected without opposition
HD 5Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 6Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 7Elected without oppostion
HD 8No action taken
HD 9Allison TantElected without opposition
HD 10Elected without opposition
HD 11No action taken
HD 12Elected without opposition
HD 13Angie Nixon
HD 14No action taken
HD 15No action taken
HD 16No action taken
HD 17No action taken
HD 18Elected without opposition
HD 19No action taken
HD 20Elected without opposition
HD 21Yvonne Hinson
HD 22Brandon Peters
HD 23Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 24Elected without opposition
HD 25No action taken
HD 26No action taken
HD 27Elected without opposition
HD 28No action taken
HD 29No action taken
HD 30No action taken
HD 31Elected without opposition
HD 32Elected without opposition
HD 33No action taken
HD 34No action taken
HD 35Fred Hawkins
HD 36No action taken
HD 37Carlos Guillermo Smith
HD 38Sarah Henry
HD 39Tiffany Hughes
HD 40LaVon Bracy Davis
HD 41Bruce Antone
HD 42Anna Eskamani
HD 43Johanna Lopez
HD 44Jennifer HarrisRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 45Allie Braswell
HD 46Kristen Arrington
HD 47No action taken
HD 48Elected without opposition
HD 49Elected without opposition
HD 50Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 51Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 52No action taken
HD 53No action taken
HD 54No action taken
HD 55No action taken
HD 56Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 57Elected without opposition
HD 58No action taken
HD 59No action taken
HD 60Lindsay Cross
HD 61No action taken
HD 62Michele Rayner
HD 63Elected without opposition
HD 64Susan Valdes
HD 65Jen McDonald
HD 66No action taken
HD 67Fentrice Driskell
HD 68No action taken
HD 69Andrew Learned
HD 70No action taken
HD 71Elected without opposition
HD 72No action taken
HD 73No action taken
HD 74Elected without opposition
HD 75Elected without opposition
HD 76Elected without opposition
HD 77No action taken
HD 78No action taken
HD 79Elected without opposition
HD 80No action taken
HD 81Elected without opposition
HD 82Elected without opposition
HD 83Elected without opposition
HD 84No action taken
HD 85No action taken
HD 86No action taken
HD 87No action taken
HD 88Jervonte Edmonds
HD 89David Silvers
HD 90Joseph Casello
HD 91Andy Thomson
HD 92Kelly Skidmore
HD 93No action taken
HD 94No action taken
HD 95Christine HunschofskyElected without opposition
HD 96Dan Daley
HD 97Race decided in primary - no general election
HD 98Patricia Hawkins-WilliamsRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 99Daryl CampbellRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 100Linda Thompson Gonzalez
HD 101Hillary Cassel
HD 101
HD 102Michael GottliebElected without opposition
HD 103Robin Bartleman
HD 104Felicia RobinsonElected without opposition
HD 105Marie Woodson
HD 106Jordan Leonard
HD 107Christopher BenjaminRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 108Dottie JospehRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 109Ashely GanttRace decided in primary, no general election
HD 110Elected without opposition
HD 111Elected without opposition
HD 112Elected without opposition
HD 113Alessandro "A.J. D'Amico
HD 114No action taken
HD 115No action taken
HD 116Daniel PerezElected without opposition
HD 117Kevin ChamblissElected without opposition
HD 118Juan Ferenandez-Barquin
HD 119No action taken
HD 120No action taken

Florida Supreme Court Justices

Of the five justices are on the ballot, only Justice Jorge Labarga, should receive a “YES” vote for retention.

The remaining four justices: Charles Canady, John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, and Ricky Polston are out of touch with FEA’s core values, therefore we recommend all be “NO” for retentions.

Constitutional Amendments

The following constitutional amendments are on the 2022 General Election ballot in Florida, along with FEA’s position on each.

Amendment 1 / No position

Limitation on the Assessment of Real Property Used for Residential Purposes

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2023, to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit the consideration of any change or improvement made to real property used for residential purposes to improve the property's resistance to flood damage in determining the assessed value of such property for ad valorem taxation purposes.​

Amendment 2 / Support

Abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals and is scheduled to next convene in 2037, as a method of submitting proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to electors of the state for approval. This amendment does not affect the ability to revise or amend the State Constitution through citizen initiative, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or legislative joint resolution.​

Amendment 3 / No Position

Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Specified Critical Public Service Workforce

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023.​

Vote-by-Mail (VBM) or mail ballot, formerly called an ‘absentee’ ballot

  • Vote-by-Mail ballots MUST be received in the Supervisor of Elections office not later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
  • If you make a mistake, do not cross out or erase or use White-out™. Contact the election office and request a new ballot.
  • If for some reason you have obtained a Vote-by-Mail ballot but wish to vote at an early voting location or at your precinct on Election Day, take the mail ballot with you to the polls. If you don’t take the ballot with you to be cancelled, you may be instructed to vote a provisional ballot.
  • Voting by mail is safe, convenient and the easiest way to participate in an election when voters take the time to ensure their voter information and signature have been updated. Always check your voter status during each election cycle.
  • Tracking your Vote-by-Mail ballot: Any voter who has requested a mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through their county Supervisor of Elections’ website.

Vote-by-Mail Questions and Answers

Bold and underlining in an answer indicates information that has been recently updated to reflect changes to election law since the 2020 election cycle. Be sure to pay special attention to that information.

Encourage members to make early VBM requests to provide plenty of time to review, complete and return their ballot. The recommendation is to return the mail ballot for it to arrive at their county elections office at least seven to 10 days before the election. This allows for time to verify, on the Supervisor of Elections website or by phone, the arrival and status of the voted ballot. If there’s an error, such as a signature that doesn’t match the one in the member’s voter file, or a change of address, the member would have time to contact the Supervisor of Elections to update their voter file and ensure their vote counts. Do not wait until the final two weeks before the election to request a mail ballot.

It’s extremely convenient and no different than voting in person — except voters complete their ballots in the privacy and safety of their homes. No long lines or long waits, and you can vote from the comfort of home. Members can apply for a mail ballot today. As we move closer to Election Day, the election office will mail a ballot to their home.  Members can request their ballot by calling their county Supervisor of Elections office, mailing a written request or completing the online form on the elections website.  To make the request, you need your name, address, date of birth and your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

Voting by mail has existed in Florida for a long time. We used to call it an “absentee ballot.” In 2016, Florida changed the name to Vote-by-Mail to ease confusion over who can vote by mail. It’s available to all registered voters, and you don’t need an excuse to receive one. It’s a safe and secure way to cast your ballot. Numerous states have been conducting their elections entirely by mail for years.

Yes. All mail ballots are counted in every election. Starting with elections in 2022, state law requires each elections supervisor to provide live voter turnout data, updated at least once every hour. This information must be available on the supervisor’s website and provided to the State Division of Elections.

Any voter who has requested a mail ballot can track online the status of his or her ballot through their county Supervisor of Elections’ website or at MakeAPlantoVote.com/check.

If you haven’t received your ballot a month before Election Day, check your voting status first on the elections website. If you notice any errors, contact your county election office immediately to remedy the problem and request a new ballot.

Check your voter status to avoid any errors, confusion or mishaps that could impact your vote.

Even if you are a registered voter in Florida but have not cast an election ballot in your county within the past two election cycles, your name could appear on the state inactive voter list.

Florida’s 67 counties use the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to identify and purge ineligible voters from county rolls. State law requires county election supervisors to conduct a voter maintenance program to provide up-to-date individual records by identifying potential voters who are not registered, individuals who have relocated, have changed their name, or died. 

Yes, your vote by mail ballot request is eligible for use during one election cycle, which includes the primary and general elections for that year only. It expires after each general election. Voters will need to request a new mail ballot every year. It can be done by phone, a letter or email, or online on your county Supervisor of Elections website.  To make the request, you will need to provide your name, address, date of birth and your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number.  

You can still vote in person, but you must surrender the mail ballot at your polling site before you vote. When surrendering your mail ballot, you must present your driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. The ballot must be cancelled for your vote to count.

If you run into a problem at your polling site, you have the right to request a “provisional” ballot.

What Is a Provisional Ballot?

Provisional ballots are used by the elections office to determine whether a person is legally eligible to vote.  For example, a provisional ballot is used to cure mismatched signatures; it’s required for voters who fail to update their address with the state after relocating.

Using a provisional ballot does not guarantee your vote. If your voter eligibility cannot be confirmed, your ballot will not be validated. To ensure your vote counts, please take a few moments now to check your voter status online.

Reasons for Provisional Voting

  • Voter record cannot be located.
  • Voter did not bring proper identification to the polls.
  • Voter’s eligibility cannot be verified at the precinct.
  • Voter’s eligibility has been challenged.
  • Voter is at the incorrect precinct.
  • Voter may have already voted in the election.