As the 2026 election cycle approaches, Floridians are preparing to vote for their next governor, state attorney general, congress members and state amendments.
On Aug. 18, Floridians registered with a partisan political party can select their party’s candidates in the primary election. Chosen candidates will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 3.
The News-Press spoke with Gaby Aguirre from the Lee County Elections Office about what Lee County voters should know before heading to the polls.
How Lee County residents can register to vote
The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for primary elections is July 20, and the deadline for general elections is Oct. 5.
Residents must update any changes in name, address, signature or driver’s license number to voter registrations. This can be completed online at http://RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
Voting in person in Lee County
Voters can vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day. Polling stations across Lee County will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during both primary and general elections.
Residents voting in person on Election Day must vote at their designated polling location on their voter registration.
Under Florida law, voters must present one of the following forms of photo identification at the polls:
Early voting in Lee County
Lee County residents can vote early in primary elections from Aug. 8 through Aug. 15. For general elections, early voting is from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31.
Residents can vote early at any of the following locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
Voting by mail in Lee County
Under Florida law, all previous vote-by-mail requests have expired, so Florida voters must submit a new request for mail-in ballots.
Lee County voters must submit their request to vote-by-mail in the primary elections directly to the supervisor of elections, Jenna Persons-Mulicka, by 5 p.m. on Aug. 6. For general elections, requests must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22.
For primary elections, the projected mail date for domestic ballots is July 14, Aguirre said. For military and overseas voters, the projected mail date is July 2.
It is recommended to mail out primary election ballots by Aug. 4 and general election ballots by Oct. 20.
Voters can also turn in mail-in ballots in person to one of the following offices of the supervisor of elections:
Any vote-by-mail ballots that are received after 7 p.m. on each election day will not be counted.
What to know before voting in Lee County
The Lee County Elections Office will mail a sample ballot to registered voters prior to elections, Aguirre said. Ballot information will also be added to the supervisor of election’s website.
Information on candidates running for office will be released after Lee County’s qualifying period ends on June 12.
“We’re coming up to America’s 250th anniversary,” Aguirre said. “What a great way to celebrate — to go out and vote.”
Reach The News-Press & Naples Daily News reporter Vanessa Norris by emailing vnorris@news-press.com.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What Lee County voters need to know for 2026 elections
Reporting by Vanessa Norris, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Vanessa Norris, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
