Since 1995, any office that issues driver licenses or state identification cards must provide voter registration services at the same time. This is a federal and state law requirement. See the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 also known as “The Motor Voter” law (42 U.S. C. 1973gg), Section 97.057, Florida Statutes, (the Florida Voter Registration Act).
Each driver license or identification card application (including any renewal or address change application) shall serve as an application for voter registration, unless the customer fails to sign the voter registration application. An application for an address change shall serve as a notification of an address change for voter registration unless the customer states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes.
While performing driver license and identification card transactions, the law requires that we simultaneously accept applications to register every eligible customer who is a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident, and 16 years of age or older. An application for voter registration shall be considered as updating any previous voter registration by the customer. A customer is deemed to have consented to the use of their signature and address change from the driver license or identification card application for voter and registration purposes.
Although the Tax Collector’s Office does not technically register voters, we are required to intake voter registration information electronically for the customer. This voter registration information is then transmitted to the Florida Department of State’s statewide voter registration system within 24 hours of receipt.
The Tax Collector’s Office accepts all voter registration applications received by mail or hand-delivered to the office. There are three types of valid voter registration application forms: Florida Voter Registration Application, National Mail-in Application and the Federal Postcard Application. All paper applications including incomplete and invalid applications are forwarded to the local supervisor of elections no later than five days after receipt.
