FloridaFlorida candidates must meet yearlong registration and name-change rules
Florida party and unaffiliated candidates must meet yearlong registration and name-change rules, with name exceptions for divorce, child adoption, and changes using a marriage certificate.
What it does
Candidates seeking a party nomination must have been registered with that party for at least 365 consecutive days before qualifying begins. Candidates running without party affiliation must have kept that status for the same period.
Candidates cannot have changed their names through a court name-change petition during the 365 days before qualifying begins. Exceptions cover divorce, child adoption, and changes using a marriage certificate.
Qualified rivals or parties with qualified candidates in the same race may challenge either requirement in court. A final court order finding a violation bars the candidate from qualifying and appearing on the ballot.
Argument forRequiring a full year of consistent registration could help voters trust that candidates’ party labels reflect an established choice.
Argument againstThe name rule could exclude otherwise eligible candidates who changed their names for personal reasons outside the marriage, divorce, and adoption exceptions.
More detail
Candidates must meet the registration requirement and confirm their registration history in writing when signing their candidate oath. The requirements cover candidates seeking a party nomination and candidates running without party affiliation. Party candidates must have stayed registered with the party whose nomination they seek. Candidates running without party affiliation must have stayed registered without party affiliation and cannot have belonged to any political party during that period. The 365-day period ends when the candidate filing period begins before the general election. The law took effect upon becoming law.
Candidates must confirm in writing that they meet the name-change rule when signing their candidate oath. The rule covers candidates seeking a party nomination and candidates running without party affiliation. The restriction does not cover name changes in divorce or child adoption proceedings or changes made using a marriage certificate. The name-change rule covers the 365 days before the candidate filing period begins. The law took effect upon becoming law.
Eligible rival candidates and political parties may sue to challenge compliance with the registration or name-change requirements. The lawsuit must be filed in the circuit court for the county where the official handling candidate qualification is headquartered. The challenger must be a candidate who has qualified in the same race or a political party with qualified candidates in that race. These court challenges are the only way to enforce the two requirements. The name-change exceptions also apply when a court decides whether to exclude a candidate. Exclusion requires a court order that has become final. The law took effect upon becoming law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Chapter No. 2026-25; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 991 (Ch. 2026-26)Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Mar 31Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Feb 26Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26In Messages
- Feb 26Immediately certified
- Feb 26CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 26Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 26Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 26Substituted for CS/SB 62
- Feb 26Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Feb 26Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 25ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 25In Messages
- Feb 25CS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Amendment 384943 superseded by substitute
- Feb 25Amendment 383023 adopted
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 10Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 10Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 10Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- 2025
- Dec 12Now in State Affairs Committee
- Dec 12Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Dec 11CS FiledMinor
- Dec 11Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Dec 10Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Government Operations Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Dec 10Favorable with CS by Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Dec 3Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
- Oct 14Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
- Oct 14Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Oct 14Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Oct 6FiledIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting