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Trans & Non-Binary Voting Guide
Equality Florida's Information for Trans & Nonbinary Voters
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Florida requires voters to present photo identification at the polls, which can create additional barriers for transgender and nonbinary voters due to bias, misapplication of Voter ID laws, and heightened scrutiny over state-issued identity documents. Understanding your rights and what to expect at the polls – particularly in the wake of recent agency actions that seek to restrict transgender and nonbinary Floridians’ access to
accurate and affirming IDs – is critical to protecting your right to vote on Election Day.
Denying Eligible Voters a Ballot Over Gender Identity or Gender Marker is Illegal
Florida law requires every voter to present a photo ID that matches the name listed on their voter registration in order to vote at a polling place. While many transgender Floridians have updated their state-issued IDs to reflect their affirming gender, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has recently been prohibiting gender marker changes on driver’s licenses that have already been issued.
Transgender Floridians who have not been able to update their IDs may encounter additional questions at the polls, but poll workers cannot prevent eligible voters from voting because their gender identity or expression does not “match” the photo, name, or gender marker on their ID.
● Poll workers should not scrutinize a voter’s gender marker to verify their identity, and cannot prohibit an eligible voter from voting because they think the voter “should” look a certain way or have a certain gender marker on their ID.
● If a voter’s name and address, as listed on their voter registration, matches the name and address on their photo ID, they have fulfilled Voter ID requirements and are entitled to exercise their right to vote.
● Voters may choose which form of photo ID they wish to present to poll workers from the 12 accepted types. It may be helpful to bring additional forms of photo ID and a utility bill showing your address.
● Florida requires every voter to sign a Voter’s Certificate. While signatures change over time, the signature used on the Voter’s Certificate must reasonably match the signature the Supervisor of Elections has on file. If you’re concerned about your signature match being verified, you can update your signature at the County Supervisor of Elections office, either in-person or by-mail.
Ensure Your Vote is Counted
● Check to ensure your voter registration is active and accurate. We recommend that you check your registration and make any necessary updates online–like updating your name if you’ve recently had a legal name change–by October 7, 2024.
● Voting-by-Mail may be the safest option for many Floridians, including transgender and nonbinary voters. Due to recent changes in Florida law, all vote-by-mail ballot requests expired as of Jan. 1, 2023, and must be requested again. You should not assume you will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot if you have in the past. You must request a Vote-by-Mail ballot by October 24, and can do so online through your county’s Supervisor of Elections website. You may mail your ballot or drop it off in-person at the Supervisor of Elections office, Early Voting locations, or other designated drop-off sites, avoiding interactions with poll workers. Your ballot must be received by 7 PM on Election Day.
● If you prefer to vote in-person on Election Day or during Early Voting and are denied a regular ballot, request a provisional ballot. If you are forced to cast a provisional ballot, call the National Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
Additional Resources from Equality Florida: