Election Connection: Know Your Election Status before October 9 Registration Deadline

October 2, 2018 (Orlando) – It’s election season so here’s a little of what you need to know about the General Election on Nov. 6:

Registration is now underway and will continue though next Tuesday, Oct. 9 in order to vote.  

While hundreds of thousands of new voters have been added to the registration list in Florida, more than a hundred thousand of active voters have been removed and tens of thousands inactive voters have been removed. (Source: Florida Division of Elections website)

Florida law states that you can request (in writing) to be removed (why would you?), if  your county’s Supervisor of Election received notice from another state election official that you registered out-of-state – you can be removed, if you are ineligible to register and vote, you can be removed; or if you fail to respond to an address confirmation final notice, you can be removed and if you haven’t voted or done anything with your registration for two subsequent general election cycles (you’re an inactive voter) – you can be removed. Election officials also periodically check their registration list with Bureau of Vital Statistics for voters who have passed. 

So how do you know if you’re an active or inactive voter, based on state records? 

It’s imperative that you check your ELECTION STATUS, especially if you haven’t voted in 10 years – since President Barack Obama was first elected (2008) or when he was re-elected (2012). Even if you have moved within the state or changed your name, you should check your ELECTION STATUS.  (With Florida electing a new Governor, as well as other key state public seats, there mostly likely be a record number of people casting votes in November’s General Election. Voters have a chance to elect its first African American governor.)

Call the Orange County Elections Office at (407) 836-2070 or click on the elections office website: http://www.ocfelections.com to confirm your status.

An inactive status doesn’t mean you can’t vote, it just cost you extra time and a lot of frustration, i.e. they can’t find your information anywhere.

If you are ineligible to vote, you can not vote, i.e. you’re not 18 years old at time of the election. 

Being involved in the election process not only has to do with who is running the country but also who is running and making important decisions in your local community and in your state, as well as who is making decisions about the school system which your child or grandchild attends.