Florida voters are being urged to verify their driver’s license information ahead of upcoming elections as mismatched or outdated records could prevent some residents from casting ballots.
Newsweek has contacted the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the office of the supervisor of elections for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Several U.S. House districts in Florida are expected to be competitive in the 2026 midterm elections. Districts such as the 10th, 15th and 16th have drawn attention because of shifting demographics and political dynamics. Both major parties are preparing for intense campaigns in these areas, and any elections in the state could affect the balance of power in Congress.
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What To Know
According to WPTV, any licenses issued from July 31, 2024, onward will include updated combination numbers, and this change could have significant implications for future voters.
The change means that those attempting to request a vote-by-mail ballot online will encounter error messages if their driver’s license information is out of sync with their voter registration.
In-person voting is not affected by the new license changes. But Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland told Action News Jax that petitions could also be affected.
“If you don’t update your registration info and use your new license number on a petition, it can’t be counted. So that’s where you do want that update prior to putting your new number on a petition form,” he said.
The Florida DMV said the update was designed to make driver’s licenses more secure. The new licenses feature an updated two-digit number within the license number that corresponds to the holder’s birth year.
The Supervisor of Elections Office, which has been sharing guidance about the change through newsletters and press releases, plans to send postcards as Election Day approaches to remind residents to verify and update their voter registration details.
When updating a driver’s license, voters should check the box indicating “yes” to update their voter information, even if no other changes are being made. This simple step can prevent problems on Election Day.
Brad Ashwell of All Voting Is Local told Action News Jax that a new license number wouldn’t “automatically update with your local supervisor of elections.” He added that the update came into play especially for voters “who want to vote by mail, which is, you know, hugely popular all over the state with both parties.”
Voters can also contact the Supervisor of Elections Office directly or visit RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov to confirm their registration.
Holland said he had asked the state whether it would eventually automatically advise election supervisors when a voter’s driver’s license number changed and that he expected an answer by Monday.
Vote-by-mail requests must be submitted to the supervisor of elections at least 12 days before an election.
What Happens Next
In Palm Beach County, there’s a special election for the Republican Party in House District 90 on September 30, followed by the special general election on December 9.
The midterm elections follow in November 2026, with the primaries taking place in August.
