No Solicitation Zone

SOLICITATION DEFINED

The terms “solicit” or “solicitation” shall include, but not be limited to, seeking or attempting to seek any vote, fact, opinion, or contribution; distributing or attempting to distribute any political or campaign material, leaflet, or handout; conducting a poll except as specified in this paragraph; seeking or attempting to seek a signature on any petition; and selling or attempting to sell any item. The terms “solicit” or “solicitation” may not be construed to prohibit exit polling. (Florida Statutes 102.031(4)(b))

LIMITATIONS OF SOLICITING AT POLLS

No person may enter any polling room or polling place where the polling place is also a polling room, or any early voting area during voting hours except the following: official poll watchers; inspectors; election clerks; the supervisor of elections or his or her deputy; persons there to vote, persons in the care of a voter, or persons caring for such voter; law enforcement officers or emergency service personnel there with permission of the clerk or a majority of the inspectors; or a person, whether or not a registered voter, who is assisting with or participating in a simulated election for minors, as approved by the supervisor of elections.

The restrictions stated in the above paragraph do not apply where the polling room is in an area commonly traversed by the public in order to gain access to businesses or homes or in an area traditionally utilized as a public area for discussion. (Florida Statutes 102.031(3)(a)(b))

No person, political committee, or other group or organization may solicit voters inside the polling place or within 150 feet of a drop box or the entrance to any polling place, a polling room where the polling place is also a polling room, an early voting site, or an office of the supervisor where vote-by-mail ballots are requested and printed on demand for the convenience of electors who appear in person to request them. Before the opening of the polling place or early voting site, the clerk or supervisor shall designate the no-solicitation zone and mark the boundaries. (Florida Statutes 102.031(4)(a))

DESIGNATION OF SOLICITATION AREA

Each supervisor of elections shall inform the clerk of the area within which soliciting is unlawful, based on the particular characteristics of that polling place. The supervisor or the clerk may take any reasonable action necessary to ensure order at the polling places, including, but not limited to, having disruptive and unruly persons removed by law enforcement officers from the polling room or place or from the 150-foot zone surrounding the polling place or drop box. (Florida Statutes 102.031(4)(c))

PHOTOGRAPHY PROHIBITED

No photography is permitted in the polling room or early voting area, except an elector may photograph his or her own ballot. (Florida Statutes 102.031(5))

Political Signs Outside the 150 Foot "No-Solicitation Zone"

The County and the municipalities have established sign ordinances by which each candidate, political party, political committee, and electioneering communications organization must be governed. The Supervisor of Election's responsibility at any polling location is within the 150 Foot "No-Solicitation Zone"; activities outside of this zone are the responsibility of code enforcement.  Anyone lodging a sign-related complaint will be directed to the code enforcement unit assigned to the specific voting location. 

The code enforcement contact numbers are as follows: