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Florida > The Florida Election Code > Qualification And Registration Of Electors Florida Voter Registration Act

§ 97.051 Oath upon registering.

Overview of Statute

This statute provides the oath that all Florida voters must take when they register to vote.

Statute

A person registering to vote must subscribe to the following oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true.”

History:

s. 7, ch. 3879, 1889; RS 161; s. 8, ch. 4328, 1895; GS 178; RGS 222; CGL 257; s. 4, ch. 25383, 1949; s. 1, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 3, ch. 69-280; ss. 2, 4, ch. 71-108; s. 1, ch. 72-63; s. 2, ch. 77-175; s. 1, ch. 81-304; s. 9, ch. 94-224; s. 3, ch. 2005-277; s. 4, ch. 2005-278.

Definition [Person]

An individual or a corporation, association, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, club, organization, estate, trust, business trust, syndicate, or other combination of individuals having collective capacity. The term includes a political party, affiliated party committee, or political committee. Fla. Stat. § 106.011(14).

Definition [Elector]

“Elector” is synonymous with the word “voter” or “qualified elector or voter,” except where the word is used to describe presidential electors. Fla. Stat. § 97.021(15).

Cases

Florida Cases

Case Name: State v. Parsons

Citation: 302 So.2d 766

Year: 1974

Case URL: https://www.ravellaw.com/opinions/b27ae641411e583ca9f1a87cb81881b2

Case Summary: State v. Parsons held that a defendant who, in order to register to vote, allegedly took an untrue oath that he was qualified to vote (knowing that he had been convicted of a felony), could not be convicted of false swearing.

Case Name: Fields v. Askew

Citation: 279 So.2d 822

Year: 1973

Case URL: https://www.ravellaw.com/opinions/9f6531893fba02e95040e5a0d3927257

Case Summary: Fields v. Askew held that the loyalty oath does not conflict with neither the Florida Constitution, nor with the due process and equal protection clauses, nor with the 1st Amendment of the Federal Constitution.

Out-of-State Cases

Federal Cases

Regulations & Guidance

Additional Resources

Further Reading

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 41, Oath of loyalty

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 57, Generally; uniform statewide voter registration application

  • Fla. Jur. 2d Elections s 59, Acceptance of voter registration applications; verification-Oath upon registering

  • 0050 SURVEYS 9; Voter Registration