Florida Primary Election 2026 Today: Candidates, where to vote, polling place locator, what to bring; here’s the complete voting guide

Florida Primary Election 2026 Today: Florida voters head to the polls today, Tuesday, August 18, for the 2026 primary election. Voters will decide on several state and local candidates, including the next Republican and Democratic candidates for governor, as current Gov. Ron DeSantis cannot seek another term because of term limits.

With election day now here, voters should know when polls open and close, where they can vote, what identification they need and what to do if they still have a vote-by-mail ballot.

When is the Florida primary election 2026?

Florida's primary election is being held today, Tuesday, August 18, 2026.


The election includes several state and local contests, including the race for governor.

What time do polls open and close in Florida today?

Polling places across Florida will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on election day.

Voters who are in line at 7 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.

Florida Primary Election 2026: Top candidates to watch closely

Republican candidates

• Byron Donalds — U.S. Representative
• Jay Collins — Florida lieutenant governor
• Paul Renner — former Florida House speaker
• James Fishback — businessman/investment executive
• Charles Burkett — Surfside mayor
• Daniel Nokovich
• Joseph Arthur McCaffrey
• Rachel Rodriguez
• Caneste Succe
• Bobby Williams

Democratic candidates

• David Jolly — former U.S. Representative
• Gwen Graham
• Evelyn Castillo-Bach
• Dotie Joseph
• Stephann Norman
• Thomas Eloy Fernandez
• Marie Dayna Foster

Other-party and no-party candidates

The official candidate list also features several candidates running outside the major parties, including Dean Ocean Abrams, Charles Burkett, Moliere “Moe” Dimache, Frank J. Russo, Kathy Anderson, Erik Morris and Scott Ekhard Jewett, among others.

Where do I vote in Florida today?

Florida voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling location on election day.

If you do not know where to vote, select your county and follow the directions provided by the Florida Division of Elections to find your polling location.

Voters should make sure they go to their assigned location rather than assuming they can vote at any polling place in their county.

Is it too late to mail a Florida vote-by-mail ballot?

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the voter's local elections office no later than 7 p.m. on August 18 to be counted.

Voters who still have their ballots can return them to a secure drop box at their county Supervisor of Elections' main or branch office.

Secure drop-box locations, days and opening hours vary by county. Voters should check their county Supervisor of Elections' website for details.

Click here for information about Florida voting and County Supervisors of Elections

How can I track my Florida mail-in ballot?

Voters can check the status of their vote-by-mail ballot online.

The Florida Elections Office provides county-specific links through its Vote-by-Mail Ballot Information and Status Lookup service.

How many people have already voted in Florida?

As of August 16, a total of 1,816,739 ballots had been returned or cast through early voting in Florida.

The total included:

• Vote by mail: 1,077,951
• Early voting: 738,788

State records showed Democrats had returned more vote-by-mail ballots than Republicans, while Republicans had recorded more early votes.

Florida vote-by-mail figures

• Republicans: 417,845
• Democrats: 490,244

Florida early-voting figures

• Republicans: 420,102
• Democrats: 262,309

What do I need to bring to vote in Florida?

Florida voters must be registered to vote and are required to provide a current and valid photo identification with a signature.

Accepted forms of identification include:

• Florida driver's licence
• Florida ID card
• US passport
• Military or student ID
• Retirement centre identification
• Neighbourhood association identification
• Public assistance identification
• Veteran health identification card issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Licence to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued under section 790.06
• Employee identification card issued by a federal, state, county or municipal government branch, department, agency or entity

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another form of identification that contains your signature.

What happens if I am still in line when polls close?

Voters who are in line at 7 p.m. can still vote.

The closing time does not mean that anyone who arrived before 7 p.m. automatically loses the opportunity to cast a ballot.

When is the 2026 Florida general election?

The 2026 Florida general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3.

The general election comes two days after the end of daylight saving time on November 1.

What are the key Florida general election deadlines?

Voters should keep the following dates in mind for the November election:

• September 19, 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters
• September 24 to October 1, 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters
• October 5, 2026: Voter registration deadline
• October 22, 2026: Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot
• October 24 to October 31, 2026: Mandatory early-voting period
• November 3, 2026: General election day

Counties may expand the early-voting period beyond the mandatory period.

Florida primary election 2026: Key things voters should remember

For voters heading to the polls today, the most important points are simple: polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., you must vote at your assigned polling location, and voters in line at 7 p.m. can still cast their ballots.

If you still have a vote-by-mail ballot, do not rely on postal delivery at this stage. Return it through an authorised secure drop box or to your county elections office before the 7 p.m. August 18 deadline.


Inputs from agencies