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 BAYCOUNTY.ORG : VOTER INFORMATION : Register To Vote
Register to Vote
REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE
You may register to vote if you are a U.S. Citizen and a legal resident of Bay County, 18 years of age or older, in possession of your civil rights and not currently adjudicated mentally incompetent. You are eligible to vote if the election falls on or after your 18th birthday. You can preregister on or after your 16th birthday or receipt of a valid Florida driver's license, whichever occurs earlier and a voter information card will be sent to you when you turn 18.
WHEN TO REGISTER
To be eligible to vote in an election, you must be registered 29 days before the date of the election. Registration books then close until after the election. New registrations received during this 29 day period are processed after the election.
WHERE TO REGISTER
You may register at the Bay County Election Center on 205 Mosley Drive, Lynn Haven, FL 32444, at the driver's license office, any state agency that serves persons with disabilities or offers public assistance, public libraries, armed forces recruitment offices, centers for independent living and city halls. Call (850)784-6100 for more information.  You can also print and use this registration application form (pdf 282K)
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- Mail back the completed and signed form to Supervisor of Elections, 205 Mosley Drive, Lynn Haven, FL, 32444, to register to vote in Bay County.
- ALL ITEMS WITHIN THE BOLD BORDERED BOX MUST BE COMPLETED AND THE FORM SIGNED TO BE A VALID REGISTRATION FORM WHEN RETURNED!
- This form requires Adobe Acrobat reader. Depending on your version of Acrobat, you may be able to fill in the form with your computer before you print it. If the PDF form is filled in online, it must be printed out and signed prior to mailing.
SELECTING A PARTY
Florida is mainly a "closed primary" state, meaning that in order to be eligible to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary elections, you must be registered with that political party. If you choose to register with a minor political party or with no party affiliation, you can vote for issues and nonpartisan candidates only in primary elections, UNLESS the winner in a primary election will not have opposition in the general election. In such a case, regardless of party affiliation, all voters will be allowed to vote in that race, during the primary election known as a universal contest. Party affiliation does not matter in general elections when you may vote for any candidate, regardless of his/her party affiliation.
VOTER INFORMATION CARD
Your voter information card shows the precinct, polling location and voting districts for your address. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on election day. If you have moved within Bay County, you must vote in your new precinct. Call our office at (850)784-6100 before election day to find out where your new precinct is located. We also list precinct locations online. You must bring an approved form of identification bearing your signature, as well as a picture I.D. to the polling place since the law requires both signature and photo identification in order to vote. If you do not bring these materials to the polling place, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot.
CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON HOW TO CHANGE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS OR PARTY AFFILIATION, OR REPLACE A LOST CARD
PLEASE NOTE that you cannot initially register to vote or change your party affiliation within 29 days of an election, while the books are closed.
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