FLORIDA — Tuesday is the last day to register to vote if you want to cast your ballot in the Nov. 8 midterm election. 

Historically, midterm elections have a lower voter turnout than the presidential, but it’s hard to say what voter engagement will be like in Florida given the pandemic and large number of people moving into the state.

What You Need To Know

  • Tuesday is the last day to register to vote if you want to cast your ballot in the Nov. 8 midterm election

  • Registered Florida voters can also update their information using the online voter registration system or by turning in or mailing a paper form to their local Supervisor of Election Office

As of Aug. 31, 2022 in Hillsborough County, there’s 287,419 registered Republicans, 341,597 registered Democrats and another 270,119 voters registered as independent. On the same date in 2018, Hillsborough County logged 267,396 registered Republicans, 329,820 registered Democrats and 240,943 voters listed with no party affiliation.

In Pinellas County as of Aug. 31, 2022, there’s 245,755 registered Republicans, 237,396 registered Democrats and another 195,570 independent voters. On the same date in 2018, Pinellas County had 232,615 registered Republicans, 234,366 registered Democrats and another 185,206 listed as no party affiliation. 

Keith Fitzgerald, a political science professor with New College of Florida, says he wasn’t surprised to see this trend given the political climate. 

“This is a typical kind of pattern for a midterm election that you see a little more movement on the side of the party that’s out of the presidency, that’s standard across time across the country,” he said. 

There’s multiple factors that could influence Florida’s midterm election, including abortion laws, inflation, the pandemic and the handling of Hurricane Ian. 

Fitzgerald believes that once again, all eyes will be on South Florida and the large and growing independent voter base statewide.  

“Turnout records for Democrats in that region have not been strong but this time around Crist put someone from that region on the ballot and the chair of the party is from that region, presumably that means they’re going to try to do a better job getting votes out of Miami,” he said. “I would guess that getting votes out in Miami is more of a determinant in the outcome of the election than people moving into the state.”

Unlike some other states, Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.

Registered Florida voters can also update their information using the online voter registration system or by turning in or mailing a paper form to their local Supervisor of Election Office.