With the 2020 presidential election just around the corner, voting is an increasingly important way to execute your role in the community. It is one of the most concrete ways for your voice to be heard in our democracy. So on the behalf of the entire Torch staff: PLEASE VOTE!
To register to vote in Florida, you must meet a list of qualifications. Make sure you meet all these requirements, as it is a third-degree felony in Florida to submit false information on your registration application.
As listed on the official Florida voter’s registration website, you must:
“Be a citizen of the United States of America;
Be a legal resident of Florida;
Be a legal resident of the county in which you seek to be registered;
Be at least 16 years old to preregister or at least 18 years old to register and vote;
Not be a person who has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored; and,
Not be a person convicted of a felony without having your right to vote restored.”
Now that you’re ready to register, here are a few ways to make sure you’re ready to go before the October 5 deadline.
Instagram has created a “Register to Vote” sticker that users can apply to their story. The sticker automatically takes users to a website that provides instructions on how to register in your state. Simply add the sticker to your story, or find it on a friend’s, and give it a click. This is one of the easiest ways to register, because it is easily accessible for most people and also spreads the word to the user’s followers.
Snapchat
Snapchat also has a “Register to Vote” feature that is easy to use. Users can simply click their Bitmoji icon in the top left corner and scroll down to the multi-step list of the steps to register to vote. This method is most helpful for users who would like to be walked through every step of the process. Snapchat has already helped to register over one million users.
The Traditional Method
There are three ways to register without social media. Eligible voters can mail an application to the supervisor of elections, bring one to the office in-person, or submit an application online. First, make sure you meet all the Florida requirements listed above. Once you are sure you qualify, you will need a few items: a Florida driver’s license or Florida ID issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the issued date of said ID, and your social-security number. Provided below is a link to the full form you must fill out, along with the link to the official voters’ website where you can submit it online. Also below is the website for Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, Ron Turner.
https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
https://dos.myflorida.com/media/703131/dsde39-english-pre-7066-052120.pdf
The deadline to register to vote in Florida is Monday, Oct. 5, so students of eligible voting age should register quickly. Voting is the only way American citizens can hold a true stake in the way their democracy functions. Make sure you take advantage of your right to vote!