Judge Extends Florida Voter Registration Deadline

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who want to vote in the upcoming general election now have one more day, at least, to get the job done. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker extended the deadline by a day in response to a suit filed by the Florida Democratic Party.

Walker's Monday order effectively extends the registration deadline to Wednesday, Oct. 12 instead of the Oct. 11 deadline initially set. Gov. Rick Scott refused to move the deadline in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Florida Democrats argued that put an undue burden on residents impacted by the storm.

Democrats requested a full week extension when filing their lawsuit. A hearing on the request to move the deadline to Oct. 18 is scheduled for Wednesday.

Walker called Scott's decision to keep the deadline firm "irrational" in his order issued Monday, The Tampa Bay Times reported. Not extending the deadline in a state "that already allows the governor to suspend or move the election date due to an unforeseen emergency" is "wholly irrational," the Times quoted Walker's ruling as saying.

In order to cast a ballot in the presidential election or a number of races at the state and local levels, eligible voters must have their registration in by the new deadline. In order to register in Florida, voters must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a citizen of the United States of America
• Be a Florida resident
• Be 18 years old
• Not have been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state
• Not have been convicted of a felony without having civil rights restored
• Be able to produce a current and valid Florida identification card or driver’s license cards. Those without these items must be able to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.

People may register to vote at any county Supervisor of Elections office, through driver’s license and tax collector’s offices or with any voter registration agency.

To check on voter registration status, visit the Florida Division of Elections online.

For information on voting or registering in a particular county, check with an individual county’s supervisor of election’s office as follows:

• Hillsborough County
• Manatee County
• Pasco County
• Pinellas County
• Sarasota County
• Polk County

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