Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-68

About These Documents

These records list individuals who registered to vote in the State of Florida in 1867 and 1868. The lists are unique in that they are the first voter rolls in Florida to systematically include African American men. No women of any race were permitted to vote in state and national elections in Florida until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

These documents are excellent resources for historians and genealogists seeking a better understanding of Florida during the Reconstruction era. The timing of this registration period falls between federal census years, which means these records may help genealogists locate individuals who moved or died between the 1860 and 1870 censuses. The participation of African Americans is also significant. For most Black Floridians listed in the collection, this is the earliest instance of their inclusion by their full name on an official state document.