I heard that if I am of a registered party and I don't vote for my party's candidate, my vote won't count?

You can vote for anybody. Nobody will be matching your vote against your registration, except for your name.

It doesn't matter where you live or what party you are registered to your vote counts in the general elections.

I live in Oklahoma and here each party usually has 2 or more candidates in the primary elections. In these primaries you are only allowed to vote for one candidate of the 2 or more running. The Dems can only vote in the Dem primary for one of the Dem candidates. Same for the Rep. Independent voters can't vote in the primaries at all. But in the general election every person gets one vote for one candidate regardless of his party affiliation or yours. Perhaps you have something similar in Florida and your friend is confused. Or perhaps you need better informed friends.

That's totally incorrect.

During the primaries, you can only vote for a candidate from the party you've registered for. In the general election, you are free to vote for anyone.

Absolutely not true; even in Florida. Party affiliation only matters during the Primary elections.

Your vote will count no mater which party you vote for. No one knows who you vote for unless you tell them. You may be registered for one party or another, but that doesn't mean you always have to vote for people in that party all the time.

Not true. The only time you cannot vote outside your own party is during the nominations.

i don't know where you vote or what method is used but even with electronic voting machines you are able to cross vote even if you vote strait party you can still vote for another party candidate by going to that person and touch the vote icon

in all fairness it IS half true...

in the primaries you can ONLY vote in the primary for the party you are registered for in some states.. in the election however you are not bound.

Your friend is a moron. Your party only counts in the primaries.

I'm not sure. I hear a lot of people say that. I always have voted for my party