In Florida, Primary Election Day is August 18, 2026.
In a representative democracy, your vote is your voice. It helps determine who represents you in local and state government and in the United States Congress.
Many elections are decided by only a handful of votes, particularly in August primaries, which historically have much lower turnout than general elections. As a result, voting in a primary can have a significant impact on the future of your community. Registering to vote and participating in primary elections is just as important as voting in November.
Florida has three types of primaries: closed partisan primaries, nonpartisan primaries, and universal primaries. Each has its own rules and can play a critical role in determining who ultimately holds office.
Closed partisan primaries
In a closed partisan primary, candidates represent political parties. Only voters registered with a party that has candidates on the ballot may vote in that party’s primary. To participate, voters must be registered with the party at least 29 days before Election Day.
Voting in a closed primary is often the first step in selecting elected officials. The candidates chosen by each party advance to the general election. If you skip the primary, you may find that the candidate you preferred is no longer an option in November.
Nonpartisan primaries
In a nonpartisan primary, candidates do not run with a party affiliation. School board races in most Florida counties are one example.
A candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote wins outright. If no candidate achieves a majority, the top two finishers advance to the general election.
In many cases, the primary effectively determines the winner. By not voting, you may miss the opportunity to help select the eventual officeholder.
Universal primaries
A universal primary occurs when all candidates for an office belong to the same political party and there is no opposition candidate, including a write-in candidate, from another party.
In these circumstances, all registered voters — regardless of party affiliation — may vote in the primary. Because the winner will take office without meaningful opposition in November, the primary is often the only election that matters.
Your voice matters
The August 2026 primary will help determine who makes important decisions affecting our schools, communities, taxes, growth, public safety, and quality of life. Whether the race is partisan, nonpartisan, or universal, your vote can help shape the outcome.
Make a plan to vote. Your voice deserves to be heard, and your vote deserves to count.
For more information about state and local races, see Vote411.org or Sparker’s Soapbox (www.sparkers-soapbox.com) to see which races and candidates are in the August Primary.
Teresa Stohs, president, and MaryJo Diehl, Communications Committee, League of Women Voters of Collier County. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. For more information about the League, see https://www.lwvcolliercounty.org
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Why voting in the August Primary matters | Opinion
Reporting by Teresa Stohs / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Teresa Stohs | USA TODAY Network
