Information for Florida Voters Living Abroad on new voter ID legislation
The new law lists an effective date of July 1, 2026
What the legislation will do
1. The state would check voter records for citizenship
The Florida Department of State will review voter registration records and compare them with information from government databases.
These checks may use records from agencies such as the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which maintains driver-license and state identification records. These records do not currently include citizenship information.
2. Some voter records could be flagged
If available records indicate a person might not be a U.S. citizen or do not confirm citizenship, the voter’s registration may be flagged for review.
This step does not automatically remove the voter from the rolls.
3. County election offices should contact affected voters
Each Florida county has a Supervisor of Elections who manages voter registrations locally.
If a voter’s citizenship cannot be confirmed through database checks:
- The county elections office may contact the voter
- The voter may be asked to provide documentation confirming U.S. citizenship
4. Voters may need to provide proof of citizenship
Documents mentioned in reporting on the legislation include:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. birth certificate
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- Naturalization certificate
These documents could be used to confirm eligibility.
What this may mean for voters living abroad
If the proposed legislation becomes law:
- Some voters may need to submit documentation if citizenship cannot be verified through government databases.
- If citizenship cannot be verified through state databases, voters may be required to submit additional documentation—potentially delaying the processing of their voter registration or ballot request.
What overseas voters can do now
- Confirm that your Florida voter registration is active and current with your county Supervisor of Elections. You can find the right links here: https://registration.dos.fl.gov/CheckVoterStatus
- Ensure your mailing address and contact information are up to date.
- If you are not registered, use https://www.votefromabroad.org to register and request your ballot right away.
- Keep documentation proving U.S. citizenship available if needed (such as a passport or birth certificate).
- Monitor updates from the Florida Division of Elections or your county elections office.