Florida
2026 Voting Rights Scorecard
Redistricting In January 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) called a Special Session of the Florida Legislature and proposed a new map that election analysts projected could favor Republicans in as many as 24 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts, compared to the 20 Republican and 8 Democratic seats elected under the prior map. The map was approved by the Florida House and Senate and signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The Supreme Court of Florida rejected challenges to the map in June 2026. The map will be in effect for the 2026 midterm elections as the Federal qualifying date for candidates passed on June 12, 2026.
Vote by Mail Florida meets five of the seven criteria. The state has fairly lenient vote by mail policies, including no-excuse absentee voting and an application process that can be completed without a printer. Recent changes to state law require voters requesting a vote-by-mail ballot to provide a Florida driver’s license number, Florida ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number for verification. In addition, vote by mail requests are no longer kept on an ongoing list and must be renewed more frequently, expiring at the end of the next regularly scheduled general election cycle.
In-person Early Voting Florida mandates eight days of early voting for at least eight hours per day, but local election supervisors have the option to expand both the number of days to fourteen days and to twelve hours in their areas. Counties in Florida must operate at least as many early voting sites as they did in the 2012 general election.
Voter ID Laws Strict photo ID requirements take effect January 1, 2027. Florida voters who vote in person must present a current and valid photo ID with a signature. Beginning January 2027, debit or credit cards, retirement center
ID’s, and neighborhood association ID’s will no longer be accepted as voter identification pursuant to the Florida SAVE act. Florida requires voters requesting a vote-by-mail (absentee) ballot to provide identifying information, specifically a Florida driver’s license number, Florida ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security Number that can be verified in election records. However, voters do not need to include a photocopy of a photo ID when returning a completed vote-by-mail ballot.
CBCF’s scorecard evaluates voting rights and access to the electoral process across 15 states with large Black populations. This fact sheet highlights key laws, policies, and recent developments affecting voting access in Florida.
Access to Polling Places Florida law mandates that each precinct contains one polling location that is “accessible to the public on election day,” but the rest of the polling location logistics are handled on the county level. The election supervisor can move the location of a polling place up to thirty days before an election but must mail each registered voter notice of the change of polling place at least 14 days before the election.
Disinformation Campaigns Florida does not have a law explicitly prohibiting election disinformation. However, in 2024, Florida enacted a law that requires political campaigns to disclose the use of generative AI in advertisements. This legislation helps protect voters in Florida from some political disinformation but does not address all forms of deliberately deceptive media. Additionally, the statute allows any person to file a complaint with the Florida Election Commission for a violation.
Felon Disenfranchisement Individuals convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense in Florida are ineligible to vote unless that right has been restored by the State Clemency Board. People with other felony convictions can have their voting rights restored after they have completed probation/parole and have paid all fees, fines and restitution. Alternately, felons may seek restoration of rights through the State Clemency Board.
Key
Inclusive voting policies: These states implement policies that protect and uphold the right to vote.
Moderate restrictions on voting: These states have policies that impose limitations on voting rights but maintain notable access for most voters.
Highly restrictive voting Highly restrictive policies: These voting states policies: states enforceThese policies that enforce limit policies that severely voting rights severelyand limitaccess. voting rights and access.
For more information on voting in Florida, visit www.vote411.org/florida Explore the full 2026 Voting Rights Scorecard