With Florida’s governor’s race topping the 2026 ballot, election deadlines are fast approaching.
The 2026 primary election is set for later this month, with some counties already starting early voting and a major deadline for mail-in ballots coming this week.
Here’s a breakdown of the state and federal races in 2026, along with important deadlines, including how to check if you’re listed as an active voter in Florida and whether you can vote by mail.
When is the 2026 Florida primary election?
The Florida primary election day will be Aug. 18, 2026.
Here are key 2026 Florida primary election deadlines to be aware of
When does early voting in Florida start and end for the 2026 primary?
Any election that includes a state or federal race is required to offer early voting, which must run from at least the 10th day before the election to the 3rd day before the election. Each county Supervisor of Elections may choose to offer more early voting days, starting up to five days earlier or lasting one day longer.
Here are the early voting dates by county in Florida. Click the county names for more information and locations. Please check your county’s website, linked below, for times and voting locations. Some early voting details may change due to local events or conditions.
Can I still vote by mail in Florida for primary election?
Yes, but the deadline to request a ballot is approaching. You’ll need to make a request to vote by mail to the Supervisor of Elections Office in the county where you live:
A request must include:
Who can ask for a vote-by-mail ballot in Florida?
The following persons can request a vote-by-mail ballot for a voter, according to the Florida Division of Elections:
Voting in person? What do I need to bring with me to vote?
You must have a photo ID with your signature to cast your ballot. Acceptable IDs include:
Do I need to bring my Florida voter registration card?
No, you don’t have to bring your Florida voter registration card as long as you’re registered to vote and can provide an accepted ID.
When is the 2026 Florida general election, and what are the key deadlines?
The Florida general election day will be Nov. 3, two days after we turn clocks back an hour for the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 1.
Here are key deadlines to be aware of:
What Florida state, federal offices will be on the 2026 Florida ballot?
According to the Florida Division of Elections, these are the state and federal offices up for election or retention in 2026:
See the lists of candidates who have registered to run in each of the races at the Florida Division of Elections website.
How to check if you’re an active registered voter in Florida?
To check that you’re an active registered voter in Florida, go to the Florida Department of State’s Voter Information Lookup website.
You’ll need to enter:
If you’re listed as an active voter, you are eligible to vote.
Is Ron DeSantis running for governor again?
No. Gov. Ron DeSantis cannot run again for governor because he has already served two consecutive terms. No one can run for three terms in a row, according to Article IV of the Florida Constitution.
DeSantis leaves the Florida governor’s mansion on Jan. 5, 2027.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: When are 2026 Florida primary elections? Date, early voting
Reporting by Samantha Neely and C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Neely and C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
