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Q. How many times and what are the past election results for either an appointed or elected Superintendent of Schools?

Q. What is a Universal Primary Contest?


A. The Universal Primary Contest was created as a result of Constitution Revision No. 11 that was approved in 1998. This amendment allows for all voters, regardless of party, to vote in any party's primary election, if the winner will not have opposition in the general election.


Q. What is a Write-In Candidate?


A. This is a candidate who qualified in a manner that does not allow for his/her name to appear on the ballot. However, a space is provided for the candidate's name to be written on the general election ballot. A person qualifying as a write-in candidate is not required to pay a filing fee, election assessment, or party assessment.


Q. I moved here from another county in Florida. Can I transfer my voter registration from that county to Lake County?


A. Yes. Please complete a voter registration application to facilitate the transfer of your registration. Please use this link for this process.


Q. Does a person have to live in the State of Florida for a certain period of time before he can register to vote?


A. No, there is no length of residency requirement in the State of Florida. However, you must be registered at least 29 days before you can vote in an election. The date your voter registration application is postmarked or hand delivered to the elections office or other official registration site will be your registration date.


Q. How will I know if my application was processed?


A. If your application is complete and you are qualified as a voter, a voter information card will be mailed to you. If your application was incomplete, you will be notified by the elections office to provide the missing information. Your application is not processed until the date that the missing information is received.


Q. Do I have to declare a party when I register to vote?


A. No, you can register in any party you choose or register with no party affiliation. An applicant who does not designate a political party affiliation on their application will be registered without party affiliation.


Q. If I register with no party affiliation, can I choose a Democrat or Republican ballot in the primary election?


A. No, Florida is a closed primary state. Only voters who are registered members of the two major political parties (Republicans/Democrats) may vote for their respective parties' candidates in a primary election. However, the Florida Constitution provides that if all candidates have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, all qualified voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary election for that office. This is known as a Universal Primary Contest. It is also important to remember that judicial and school board offices are nonpartisan and are included in primary elections, as well as local referendum questions. All registered voters, including those without party affiliation and minor political party voters are entitled to vote on all of these offices and questions. At general elections, all voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on their ballot.


Q. How do I make a change of address in my voter registration record?


A. You may call the elections office with change of address information. You may also write to the elections office or complete the information on the back of your voter identification card with your change of residence or mailing address, name change or choice of party affiliation change and mail it to the Supervisor of Elections. Additionally, you can use this link to make your address change.


Q. What is a provisional ballot?


A. At all elections, a voter claiming to be properly registered in the county and eligible to vote at the precinct in the election, but whose eligibility cannot be determined, shall be entitled to cast a provisional ballot.


Q. May I receive assistance in voting if necessary?


A. Yes, upon request, a need for assistance at the polls may be designated on an elector's registration record. The elector can designate someone of his or her choice, other than an employer or an officer or agent of the person's union. Election officials may also provide assistance.


Q. I work next door to a polling place. Can I vote there or do I have to vote at the precinct near my home?


A. Florida law states that you must vote in the precinct in which you live.


Q. What does an over-vote mean?


A. An over-vote means that the voter marks or designates more names than there are persons to be elected to an office or designates more than one answer to a ballot question. In the case of an over-vote, the tabulator would record no vote for the office or question.


Q. What does an under-vote mean?


A. An under-vote means that the voter does not properly designate any choice for an office or ballot question and the tabulator records no vote for the office or question.


Q. How far away from the polling place must candidates and campaign workers be on election day?


A. One hundred (100) feet from the entrance of the polling room.


Q. What hours are the polls open on election day?


A. 7:00 am to 7:00 pm


Q. How are candidates listed on the ballot?


A. In a primary election, candidates are listed alphabetically (except for circuit court judges who are determined by lot conducted by the State Director of the Division of Elections.) In a general election, the names of the candidates of the party that received the highest number of votes for Governor in the last election shall be placed first under the heading for each office; then, the names of the candidates of the party that received the second highest vote for Governor shall be second. Minor political party candidates and candidates with no party affiliation shall have their names appear on the general election ballot following the names of recognized political parties, in the same order as they were certified. - Florida Statutes 101.151(3)(a)(b)


Q. How do I get a sample ballot for the primary or general election?


A. Sample ballots will be mailed to each registered voter before the start of Early Voting. They will also be published in the local newspaper the week prior to each election. Sample ballots will also be posted on our web site.


Q. Can I take my sample ballot into the polling room with me?


A. Yes, you may take the sample ballot into the voting booth with you. Be sure that you take it with you when you leave the polling room.


Q. How much money can I donate to a candidate?


A. Up to $500 per election. This amount includes in-kind contributions.


Q. What is an in-kind contribution?


A. An in-kind contribution is anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election.

Example - giving lumber to a candidate to build signs for his or her campaign or providing office space at no charge or a lesser charge.


Q. Can a candidate accept a cash contribution?


A. A candidate may not accept contributions in cash or by means of a cashier's check in excess of $100.


Q. Are candidates' contributions and expenditures public record?


A. Yes


Q. When may a voter request an absentee ballot?


A. Requests for absentee ballots are accepted beginning in January of the year in which the elections are to be held.


Q. How may a person request an absentee ballot?


A. Call the election office, OR Print request form from this website (link) and mail request to this office, OR stop by the election office.


Q. May a person other than the voter request an absentee ballot?


A. Only the voter, a member of the voter's immediate family, or the legal guardian may request an absentee ballot. A requester other than the voter must provide his/her name, address, drivers license (if available) and relationship to the voter, and must have permission from the voter to make such request.


Q. May I pick up an absentee ballot?


A. A registered voter may pick up an absentee ballot at any Supervisor of Elections office with picture identification. A person could also vote early during the designated Early Voting period.


Q. Will an absentee ballot be counted if it is mailed on election day?


A. An absentee ballot can be counted only if it is received in the Supervisor's office by 7:00 p.m. election day.


Q. Can I bring my absentee ballot to my precinct on election day?


A. If you do, you will be required to turn in that ballot and vote on the iVotronic touchscreen.


Q. What if I request a ballot, but don't mail it in?


A. Up until 7pm on election day you can turn it in at the main elections' office in Tavares.


Q. Can I register to vote if I have been convicted of a felony?


A. Yes --- IF your civil rights in reference to voting have been restored.

If you are unsure if those rights have been restored, contact:
The Office of Executive Clemency
2601 Blairstone Road
Building C, Room 229
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2450
(850)488-2952
http://fpc.state.fl.us/Clemency.htm


Q. Can I register here if I live here part of the year and another state part of the year?


A. Yes. However, you must determine which place you want to be your legal residence. You cannot be registered in two places at once.


Q. Can I get information from the voter registration records?


A. Yes. In Florida, voter registration records are open to the public and may be examined, but not duplicated or sold commercially by anyone. Only government agencies, candidates, registered political committees, registered political committees of continuous existence, political parties, and incumbent officeholders may request voter registration information in a list format.

Note: No person who acquires such a list, shall use any information contained therein for purposes, which are not related to elections, political or governmental activities, voter registration, or law enforcement. (section 98.095 Florida Statutes)


 
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Helpful Links
 
Census http://www.census.gov/sdc
Town of Astatula http://www.townofastatula.com/
City of Clermont http://clermont.govoffice.com/
City of Eustis http://www.eustis.org/
City of Fruitland Park http://www.fruitlandpark.org/
City of Groveland http://www.groveland-fl.gov/
Town of Howey-in-the-Hills http://www.howeyinthehills.org/
Town of Lady Lake http://www.ladylake.org/
City of Leesburg

http://www.leesburgflorida.gov/

City of Mascotte http://www.cityofmascotte.com
City of Minneola http://www.minneola.us/
City of Mount Dora http://ci.mount-dora.fl.us/
City of Tavares http://www.tavares.org/
City of Umatilla http://www.umatillafl.org/
Division of Elections http://election.dos.state.fl.us/index.html
Federal Election Commission http://www.fec.gov/
Federal Government http://www.whitehouse.gov/
Federal Statistics http://www.fedstats.gov/
Fifth Judicial Circuit http://www.circuit5.org/
Florida Administrative Code http://election.dos.state.fl.us/fac/index.shtml
Florida Attorney General http://www.myfloridalegal.com/
Florida Clemency Board https://fpc.state.fl.us/Clemency.htm
Florida Commission on Ethics

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/

Florida Courts http://www.flcourts.org/
Florida Department of State http://www.dos.state.fl.us/
Florida Government http://www.myflorida.com/
Florida House http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/
Florida Senate http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm
Florida Statutes http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm
Lake County Government http://www.lakegovernment.com/
US Department of State
http://www.state.gov/
US House of Representatives http://www.house.gov/
US Senate http://www.senate.gov/