Myths vs Facts
Election Myths
vs. Facts
MYTH:
Voters will be turned away if they are wearing campaign apparel.
FACT: “Voters
may wear campaign buttons, shirts, hats, or any other campaign items when they enter
the polling place to vote. Voters may not otherwise campaign there.” (From the
Polling Place Procedures Manual incorporated within Rule 1S-2.034, Florida Administrative
Code)
So, merely going
to the polls wearing campaign paraphernalia is OK, but, by statute (s. 102.031(4),
Florida Statutes), one cannot solicit voters within 100 feet of the entrance to any
polling place.
MYTH:
The address on the driver’s license must match the address in the voter registration
record in order to be able to vote.
FACT: The
address on the driver’s license does not need to match the address in the voter
registration record. If you have moved and haven’t changed your driver’s
license to reflect your new address, that’s okay. What is important is that
you vote in the precinct where you currently live, no matter what your driver’s
license says.
MYTH:
If a voter does not have a driver’s license, the voter cannot vote.
FACT:
In order to vote at the polls during early voting or on Election Day, you must show
a photo and signature identification. Acceptable forms of photo identification include:
Florida driver license (quickest to process), Florida identification card issued by
the Department of Highway, Safety and Motor Vehicles (quickest to process), U.S. passport,
Debit or credit card, Military
identification, Student identification, Retirement center identification, Neighborhood
association identification, or Public assistance identification. Identification must
be current & valid. If your photo identification does not contain your signature,
you will be required to show an additional form of identification that provides your
signature.
Please note: I.D.
is not required for persons who cast an absentee ballot. However,
the signature on the voter registration database is compared to the signature on the
voter’s certificate envelope. The
two signatures must match.
MYTH:
If your house is under foreclosure, you will not be able to vote.
FACT: A
foreclosure notice does not necessarily mean that a person no longer resides in the
home, as people often remain in the home after foreclosure begins and are sometimes
able to refinance the home. Voters whose homes have been foreclosed, but who remain
in their homes may continue to vote in their assigned precinct. Voters who have physically
moved from their foreclosed residence with no intention of returning to that address
may still vote, but should provide a change of address to the supervisor of elections.
You must vote in your correct precinct.
MYTH:
If you are Florida college student, you have to change your permanent residence to
your college address.
FACT: Students
can maintain their voter registration at their hometown address, or they may register
to vote in the jurisdiction where they attend school. Those who choose to maintain
a Broward County registration will want to remember to contact our office for absentee
ballots at election time.
MYTH:
Provisional ballots are only counted when there is a close race.
FACT: A
provisional ballot is always counted when the voter is shown to be registered and
eligible, regardless of the closeness of the outcome of the election. A person who
votes provisionally simply because he or she forgot ID at the polls will not have
to do anything else. If the signatures on that ballot certificate and the voter roll
match, the provisional ballot is counted if the provisional ballot is cast in the
correct precinct.
MYTH:
Absentee ballots are only counted when there is a close race.
FACT: All
absentee ballots are counted if properly executed, which includes making sure that
the return envelope is signed and that the signature matches the voter’s signature
on the voter registration database.
MYTH:
If a voter owes child support or has pending warrants against him or her, the police
will arrest the voter at the polls.
FACT: The
voter registration rolls have no information which indicate whether a voter owes child
support or has outstanding warrants. Law enforcement personnel are allowed in the
polling place only to cast their ballots, so ordinarily there will not be any law
enforcement personnel in the polling place to identify a voter who may have outstanding
child support payments due or warrants against him or her.
MYTH:
If the voter is homeless and has no legal residence, the voter may not vote.
FACT: State
registration laws may not discriminate against the homeless in voter registration
as long as the homeless applicant for voter registration intends to remain in a locale
and has either a place where he can receive messages or an effective mailing address.
The homeless person will vote in the precinct where the applicant receives messages
(e.g., rescue mission) or the precinct in which the applicant‘s effective mailing
address is located.
MYTH
IF the voter does not have their voter information card, the voter may not vote.
FACT: The
voter information card is not necessary to vote. It is a helpful tool for the voter
to know their districts & polling location.
MYTH:
There is no more early voting on Sundays.
FACT: There
is only one Sunday during early voting October 28th Check
our website at www.browardsoe.org for specific times and locations. Early
Voting begins on Saturday, October 27, and continues through Saturday, November 3. Hours
are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
MYTH:
Voters need a reason to request an absentee ballot.
FACT: Florida is a no-excuse
absentee ballot state. Any qualified (registered)
voters are permitted to vote absentee under Florida law.
The request
deadline to have a ballot mailed is the Wednesday (October 31) before Election Day.
Ballots may be requested for pick-up beginning Thursday, November 1 through Election
Day and must be returned by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, November 6). Postmarks
are not accepted. (See
sections 97.021(1) and 101.62, Florida Statutes)
MYTH:
Voters will not be allowed to vote, even if you are in line before the polls close.
FACT: Any voter who is in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. (See sections 100.01, Florida Statutes)