FAQs

What is considered a Public Record?


Under the Florida Constitution, nearly all government documents are public records and are open to inspection and copying. This includes most records related to voter registration and elections. 

Many documents are already publicly available through this website. Please read below for information on how to request other records.

This office has designated our Chief Deputy as this agency's custodian of public records. If you have any questions about a public records request or data, please contact:



Are there records request that are exempt?


Some information is confidential or exempt from disclosure. If you request a record that contains confidential or exempt information, we will redact any confidential or exempt part.


Confidential or exempt information includes:

  • Voters’ driver’s license, ID card, or Social Security numbers
  • Records for pre-registered voters
  • Information related to where a voter registered
  • Identifying information of persons with high-risk professions or victims of certain crimes
  • Information related to critical infrastructure
  • Records related to cybersecurity, network schematics, or hardware and software configurations
  • Trade secrets that are held by an agency
  • Voter signatures can only be viewed, not copied
  • Vote-by-Mail ballot request information can only be given to certain persons and organizations

Are there charges for Public Records?

Charges for public records are in accordance with F.S. 119.07(4)(a):


If you want physical copies of records, we will charge you a fee for the copies:

  • $0.15 for each photocopied page
  • $0.05 for each doubled-sided photocopied page
  • $1 for each certified copy
  • For other copies – the actual cost of duplication

If you request a very large volume of electronic records, we will charge you for the cost of a thumb drive or other storage device.

If you request records be physically mailed to you, we will charge you for the cost of postage.

We will waive these fees if the total cost of physical copies or postage is less than $1.

Maps

  • Free PDF Electronic
  • $15.00 Large Map B&W (Larger than 11 x 17)
  • $25.00 Large Map Color (Larger than 11 x 17)
  • $1.00 per page 8.5 x 11 Color Copy
  • $2.00 per page 11 x 17 Color Copy
  • $0.15 per page 8.5 x 11 B&W
  • $1.50 per page 11 x 17 B&W

Staff Time

The first hour of staff time spent preparing and working on your request is free. After the first hour, we will charge you a “special service charge” for the labor costs associated with fulfilling your request. This is based on salary and benefits of the lowest-paid employee who can work on your request and the time spent working on your request. This includes time spent locating, organizing, copying, and redacting the records you have requested, as well as time for a manager to review the records for confidential and exempt information.

  • Management Employee: $44.20 per hour
  • Regular Employee: $23.07 per hour
  • Seasonal Employee: $12.90 per hour

Extensive use charges are in accordance with F.S. 119.07(4)(d):

If the nature or volume of public records requested to be inspected, examined, or copied pursuant to this subsection is such as to require extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by personnel of the agency involved, or both, the agency may charge, in addition to the actual cost of duplication, a special service charge, which shall be reasonable and shall be based on the cost incurred for such extensive use of information technology resources or the labor cost of the personnel providing the service that is actually incurred by the agency or attributable to the agency for the clerical and supervisory assistance required, or both. "Information technology resources" means data processing hardware and software and services, communications, supplies, personnel, facility resources, maintenance, and training.


Extensive use charges will apply for any request that exceeds 60 minutes. This includes tasks such as the time it takes to search for hardcopy records, computer research, remove exempt data, photocopy a record, on-site inspection, photocopy redaction, supervise the records during inspection, re-file the records, etc. A deposit may be charged to complete a portion of a voluminous or extensive request.


Disclaimer Assumed on all Data/Maps Provided in Response to Records Requests

Data, maps and information released from the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections (SOE) are provided in response to a public records request on an “AS IS” basis. The Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections and staff make no representation or warranty, express or implied, including without limitation any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or warranties as to the identity or ownership of data or information, the quality, accuracy or completeness of data or information, or that the use of such data or information will not infringe any patent, intellectual property or proprietary rights of any party. The SOE shall not be liable for any claim for any loss, harm, illness, or other damage or injury from access to or use of data or information, including without limitation any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, special, or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. It is the responsibility of the requester to verify the data or information/maps released to meet the specifications indicated.