Supervisor of Elections

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections is the county office responsible for voter registration, election information, voting services, polling place information, vote-by-mail administration, election results, public election records, candidate-related election services, and voter education. This article explains the main services available through the office, how voters can prepare for an election, where to find official election information, which deadlines require attention, and how to avoid common problems with registration, polling places, party affiliation, identification, and mail ballots.

Supervisor of Elections Office

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections website is the main official source for county election information. Karen Castor Dentel, elected on November 5, 2024, serves as the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. The office describes itself as a nonpartisan authority responsible for fair, secure, transparent, and accessible elections.

For most residents, the office is the correct place to begin when the question involves voter registration, a voter record, an assigned polling place, early voting, a vote-by-mail ballot, a sample ballot, local election results, precinct information, or an election-related public record. The office also provides information for candidates, poll workers, political parties and committees, military and overseas voters, and organizations conducting voter registration activities.

The office maintains online services throughout the election cycle rather than only on Election Day. Voters can review their information, locate their precinct, determine what will appear on their ballot, request a mail ballot, track a mail ballot, review election dates, and follow election results. Public notices and Canvassing Board information are also published through the elections website.

Services available online

The office organizes its functions through an official Election Services A to Z directory. This is useful when a voter knows the type of help needed but is unsure which page handles it. Services listed by the office include voter registration, information updates, early voting, Election Day voting, vote-by-mail, polling place searches, ballot tracking, sample ballots, election results, precinct maps, voter rights, public records, candidate information, poll worker applications, public meetings, and election statistics.

The same directory also separates services that can easily be confused. For example, checking a voter registration record is different from finding an Election Day polling place, and requesting a vote-by-mail ballot is different from tracking a ballot that has already been issued. Selecting the service that matches the task can prevent unnecessary delays or reliance on information that does not answer the voter’s actual question.

Voter Registration Services

Orange County residents who need to register, update an existing registration, or confirm their status should use the Supervisor of Elections voter registration services. According to the office, a person may register to vote in Florida if the person is a U.S. citizen, is a Florida resident, and is at least 18 years old. A person who is 16 or 17 may pre-register if the other requirements are met. That registration automatically becomes active on the person’s 18th birthday.

The official voter registration information page explains the available registration methods. Applications may be submitted through Florida’s online voter registration system, in person at authorized locations, or by mail using a Florida Voter Registration Application.

Online registration details

Online applicants use RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. Some applications or updates require a signature. When a signature is required, the state system instructs the applicant to print, sign, and return the form by mail or in person. A first-time Florida registrant who does not have a Florida-issued identification document must also print, sign, and return the application according to the instructions provided by the system.

A common mistake is assuming that completing information on a website always finishes the registration process. If the system instructs the applicant to print and return a signed application, that additional step is part of the process. Applicants should follow the instructions displayed during submission rather than assuming that the electronic portion alone is sufficient.

In-person registration locations

Voter registration applications may also be completed at several types of government or public-service locations identified by the Supervisor of Elections. These include:

Tax Collector offices that provide motor vehicle services.
Public libraries.
The Center for Independent Living.
WIC and Department of Children and Families offices.
Supervisor of Elections offices.
Voter registration events staffed by the Supervisor of Elections Office.

The office also accepts voter registration applications by mail. The headquarters and mailing address are provided in the final office list below.

After an application arrives

Once an application is received, the elections office enters the information into the Florida Voter Registration System and verifies the information against legal requirements. If information is missing or clarification is needed, the office may contact the applicant.

Registered voters can then review their voter record through the office’s voter information tools. The record can show registration status, party affiliation, Election Day polling place, and other election information. The office also mails a voter information card that identifies the voter’s districts and polling place.

The voter information card should be reviewed for accuracy, but it is not identification for voting at the polls. That distinction matters because having the card does not satisfy the identification requirement for in-person voting.

Registration Updates and Signatures

Voter information should reflect the voter’s current name, address, and party affiliation. The Supervisor of Elections allows voters to update registration information through the methods described on its voter registration pages, including the state online system and the Florida Voter Registration Application.

Address changes

A voter moving within Florida does not need to cancel the existing Florida registration. Instead, the voter can update the address online or through the elections office in the new county. Cancellation is a separate process intended for a voter who needs to remove the Florida registration.

The office also conducts voter-list maintenance. Florida law requires Supervisors of Elections to keep registration records current. The Orange County office may send address confirmation notices to voters under the circumstances described in its registration information.

One process involves a forwardable Address Confirmation Final Notice for voters who have not voted or updated their record in the last two general elections. A voter who does not respond may be moved to inactive status. The office states that an inactive voter can become active again by voting or updating the registration. Another process uses a non-forwardable Address Confirmation Request that gives the voter an opportunity to review and update the record.

Signature updates

The signature associated with a voter record can be especially significant for vote-by-mail voting. The Supervisor of Elections states that a voter’s signature must match the signature on the voter record. A vote-by-mail ballot may not be counted when the ballot signature does not match the signature on file.

A signature is updated automatically when a voter completes a paper voter registration application or makes changes during a driver’s license or state identification transaction. A voter can also submit an updated Florida Voter Registration Application to update the signature.

Party Affiliation Rules

Florida voters are not required to choose a political party when registering. A voter who does not select a party is registered with no party affiliation, commonly shown as NPA.

Party affiliation becomes particularly significant for primary elections because Florida uses a closed primary system. Generally, a voter may participate in a political party’s partisan primary only when registered with that party. All registered voters may participate in nonpartisan races and vote on issues regardless of party affiliation.

The elections office also explains the universal primary situation. If every candidate for an office has the same party affiliation and the primary winner will be elected to the office, all voters may vote in that race. In a general election, voters may vote for any candidate appearing on their ballot regardless of party registration.

For voters planning to change party affiliation before a primary, timing is critical. The office’s election FAQ states that the deadline to change party affiliation is 29 days before a primary election. Waiting until voting begins is therefore too late for a party change intended to affect participation in that primary.

Election Dates and Deadlines

The Supervisor of Elections maintains an official Orange County election calendar covering registration deadlines, early voting periods, mail-ballot deadlines, public meeting schedules, and Election Day.

For the 2026 General Election, the calendar lists the following key dates:

General Election Day: November 3, 2026, with voting from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Voter registration deadline: October 5, 2026.
Vote-by-mail request deadline: October 22, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
UOCAVA mail ballots sent: September 17, 2026.
Domestic mail ballots sent: September 25, 2026.
Early voting: October 19 through November 1, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Election-specific dates should be checked rather than assumed from a previous election. Early voting locations, dates, and operating hours can vary by election. The office states generally that early voting begins 10 to 15 days before an election, but the election calendar provides the dates that apply to a specific election.

Three Ways to Vote

The official Orange County voting information separates voting into the options available to county voters and explains the requirements associated with each method. The main choices are vote-by-mail, early voting, and Election Day voting.

Vote-by-mail ballots

A voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Supervisor of Elections, receive the ballot, mark it, and return it by the applicable deadline. The office also offers BallotTrax, which allows a voter to follow the ballot’s status from mailing through receipt and counting.

Voters who previously used vote-by-mail should not assume that an earlier request continues indefinitely. The elections office states that vote-by-mail requests expire after each federal general election cycle. A voter who wants to continue receiving mail ballots must submit a new request for each general election cycle, which occurs every two years.

This distinction is particularly useful for voters who remember receiving a ballot in an earlier election but do not receive one automatically in a later cycle. The prior request may have expired even though the voter’s registration remains active.

Mail ballot return options

A requested mail ballot does not have to be returned through the postal system. The office provides staffed secure ballot intake stations during early voting hours. Voters using this option should rely on the locations and hours published for the applicable election rather than assuming that every voting site or elections facility is always accepting ballots.

Early voting

During an authorized early voting period, Orange County voters may vote at any early voting site. This differs from Election Day, when a voter must use the assigned polling place.

Because early voting sites and hours vary from election to election, voters should verify the current election’s schedule before traveling. A location used for one election is not necessarily available for another.

Election Day voting

On Election Day, voters must report to their assigned polling place. The Supervisor of Elections provides a polling place lookup through its voter information services. Checking the assignment before Election Day can prevent the common problem of arriving at an early voting location or a former precinct location that is not the voter’s assigned Election Day site.

Election Day polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. According to the elections office, a voter who is already in line at the assigned polling place at 7:00 p.m. should remain in line because the voter may still cast a ballot.

Identification at the Polls

For in-person voting, the Supervisor of Elections states that voters must bring photo and signature identification. The voter information card mailed after registration does not serve as identification at the polls.

If an identification or registration issue prevents a voter from receiving a regular ballot, the office explains that a provisional ballot may be offered. Provisional voting provides a method for casting a ballot while the relevant eligibility or identification issue is reviewed.

Voters should therefore avoid treating an unexpected record or identification problem at the polling place as an automatic end to the voting process. Election workers can determine the appropriate ballot procedure under the circumstances.

Polling Places and Precincts

Orange County maintains numerous voting precincts, and a voter’s Election Day location is tied to the voter record. The elections website provides both a precinct finder and voter information lookup tools.

The distinction between early voting and Election Day is essential. During early voting, county voters may use any designated early voting location. On Election Day, the voter must use the assigned polling place. Polling locations can also change, and the Supervisor of Elections publishes notices when Election Day sites are changed.

Checking a polling place shortly before voting is more reliable than depending on an address remembered from a prior election. A change in residence, precinct boundaries, or polling locations can affect the correct destination.

Ballots Before Election Day

Voters who want to review races and questions in advance can use the Supervisor of Elections ballot information. The office provides personalized “What’s On My Ballot?” information and sample ballots. Its upcoming elections information also directs voters to election dates, municipal election details, ballot information, petitions, and proposed amendments.

Reviewing the ballot in advance is different from checking registration status. A voter may be properly registered but still need the ballot lookup to determine which contests apply to the voter’s residence and districts.

Similarly, a generic sample ballot and a personalized ballot lookup serve different purposes. Voters looking for the races and questions they personally expect to see should use the personalized information provided through the elections office.

Accessibility and Language Access

The Supervisor of Elections states that voting services are designed so voters with disabilities can vote safely, privately, and independently. The office assesses polling places for ADA accessibility and provides information about accessible voting in person and by mail.

Language assistance is also part of the county’s election services. The office provides Spanish versions of official forms, including ballots, and states that composite ballots are provided in several additional languages. Multilingual assistance is available at polling sites.

Voters looking for these accommodations should use the elections office’s accessibility or language access services rather than assuming that the same materials and assistance are available in identical formats at every stage of the election process.

Election Results and Records

The Supervisor of Elections publishes Orange County election results for current and past elections. The results pages can include vote totals, turnout information, and precinct-level results for Orange County and municipal elections.

County election results should also be distinguished from statewide and federal result sources. The Orange County results page directs users to the Florida Division of Elections for statewide results and to the Federal Election Commission for federal results. This separation helps users select the appropriate government source based on the election information they are trying to review.

Election public records

The office’s election public records section provides access to several categories of election information, including election results, campaign finance reports, election statistics, precinct and district maps, sample ballots, and copies of official election mail.

The Supervisor of Elections also operates a Public Records Request portal for records maintained by the office. A request for an elections-office record is therefore different from using one of the already published datasets or result pages. When the desired information is already available as election results, statistics, maps, campaign finance material, or election mail, users can review the corresponding published section. The public records request process is available for records requested from the office.

Candidate and Poll Worker Services

The Supervisor of Elections serves more than individual voters. Candidate services cover offices up for election, candidate qualifying, current candidates, campaign finance, campaign signs, political parties and committees, and poll watchers. These services are handled through the elections office rather than the voter registration process.

The office also recruits and trains poll workers. According to its published requirements, a poll worker must be a registered Orange County voter, attend mandatory training before each election for a minimum of three hours, be available to work a minimum of 14 hours on Election Day, represent the elections office appropriately in public, and perform the assigned duties of the position.

Organizations may also participate through the Adopt-A-Precinct program, in which participating groups can staff a precinct and earn funds for their organization.

Avoiding Common Election Problems

Several election problems can be prevented by verifying information before the applicable deadline. The most useful checks depend on how a voter plans to participate.

Confirm registration status. Do not rely only on having registered in the past. Review the current voter record and make sure the address and other information are accurate.

Review party affiliation before a primary. Florida’s closed primary rules can affect which partisan contests appear on a voter’s primary ballot, and party changes are subject to a deadline.

Do not use a voter information card as poll identification. The elections office requires photo and signature identification for in-person voting.

Verify the Election Day polling place. Early voting allows voters to use designated early voting sites, but Election Day voters must go to their assigned polling place.

Check vote-by-mail request status each cycle. Mail-ballot requests expire after each federal general election cycle and must be renewed for continued participation by mail.

Keep the voter signature current. A mismatch between a mail-ballot signature and the signature in the voter record can affect whether the ballot is counted.

Use the election-specific calendar. Registration deadlines, mail-ballot deadlines, early voting dates, and voting hours should be taken from the schedule for the applicable election.

Track a requested mail ballot separately. Requesting a ballot and monitoring its delivery and return status are different tasks. BallotTrax is available for tracking.

Voters should also distinguish between registration information, ballot information, and election results. A registration lookup confirms the voter record and assigned polling place. A sample ballot or personalized ballot lookup shows races and questions. Election results provide vote totals after voting has taken place. Using the correct system for the task reduces confusion during busy election periods.

Supervisor of Elections Offices

Orange County Supervisor of Elections
Headquarters: 119 W. Kaley St., Orlando, FL 32806
Satellite Office: 9401 W. Colonial Dr., Suite 360A, Ocoee, FL 34761
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 562001, Orlando, FL 32856-2001
General Phone Line: 407-836-2070
Vote By Mail Phone Line: 407-836-8683

Supervisor of Elections FAQs

Can I watch Orange County election meetings and ballot processing?

Yes. The elections office publishes information for public election meetings, including Canvassing Board activity, and provides livestream access for certain election proceedings. This can be useful when you want to follow ballot review, certification-related proceedings, or other publicly scheduled election activity without attending in person. Check the official Election Services A to Z directory for Public Meetings, Canvassing Board, and Watch Livestreams options. Meeting schedules and notices can change during an election cycle, so use the information posted for the specific proceeding you want to follow.

Where can I find official election notices and legal announcements?

The Supervisor of Elections publishes election-related legal notices, announcements, and office updates through its official website. These notices may cover Canvassing Board proceedings, recount activity, audits, election administration changes, and other matters that require public notice. The News and Legal Ads section is the appropriate place to check when you need an official announcement rather than general voting instructions. For time-sensitive matters, review the date and election identified in the notice to make sure it applies to the election you are following.

Can I ask the elections office to attend a community event?

Yes. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections conducts year-round community outreach and allows organizations to request participation in community events. The office also offers opportunities to request tours and election-related educational activities. Schools, community organizations, and other groups interested in voter education or registration outreach can use the office’s event-request process rather than relying on informal arrangements. The official community outreach information explains how residents and organizations can follow upcoming outreach activities or request office participation.

How do I find official information about petitions and proposed amendments?

Voters looking into proposed constitutional or Orange County Charter changes can use the elections office’s petitions and amendments information. This section distinguishes election-related petition activity from candidate information and ordinary ballot lookups. The upcoming elections section provides access to petitions and amendments alongside other election-specific information, making it useful when researching how a proposed measure reaches the ballot or determining which amendment information is associated with an upcoming election.