Elections 101

Primary Elections

100

What are Primary Elections?

Primaries are elections that political parties use to select candidates for a general election. Then each party’s candidates run against each other in the general election.

200

What kind of Primary state is Florida and what does that mean?

Florida is a closed primary state. 

In a closed primary, voters may only vote in the primary of the party they are registered with. For example, a voter registered as a Republican can only vote in a Republican primary. Absentee voters in States that con- duct closed primaries are often re- quired to choose a party affiliation on their voter registration form in order to participate in the State’s primary elections.

300

What are the new constitutional offices Miami-Dade County will have beginning this year? 

The Sheriff

The Supervisor of Elections

The Property Appraiser

The Tax Collector

The Clerk of the Court

400

Who and what will be on the ballot this August?

Almost Everything!

Congress members

State Senators and Representatives

County Commissioners (Depending on District)

School Board

Sheriff & Supervisor of Elections 

City Mayor & Commissioners (Depending on City)

Straw Vote

Referendum

500

What is the composition of the Florida legislature?

State Senate (40)

•   Republican (28)
•   Democratic (12)

House of Representatives (120)

•   Republican (83)
•   Democratic (36)

American Government 101

100

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, executive, and judicial branches

200

Which elected offices make up the executive branch of government at the local, state, and federal?

Federal: President

State: Governor

County/City: Mayor

300

Which elected offices make up the legislative branch of government at the local, state, and federal?

Federal: Congressional Members

State: State Representatives + State Senators

City/County: Commissioners

400

Which elected offices make up the judicial branch of government at the local, state, and federal?

Federal: Supreme Court

State: State Supreme Court

City/County: Circuit Courts (Municipal Courts Abolished)

500

What are the requirements for voting in the state of Florida?

• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Be a legal resident of both the State of Florida and of the county in which you seek to be registered;
• Be 18 years old (you may pre‑register if you are at least 16);
• Not be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other State, or if you have, you must first have your voting rights restored;
• Not be a convicted felon, or if you are, you must first have your civil rights restored if they were taken away;
• Swear or affirm the following: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true.”