Florida’s primary election has arrived. Polls open statewide on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. And it’s a big one.
Voters will choose party nominees to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and fill the state’s special U.S. Senate seat. There are also congressional, legislative, and our own local races to decide in Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Florida uses closed primaries, so only party-registered voters can pick party candidates. Nonpartisan races, like some school board contests, are open to everyone.
If you still have a mail ballot, it needs to reach your county elections office by 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Don’t count on a postmark, as they only accept ballots delivered on time. Poll workers at voting locations won’t take them either. Early voting wrapped up Sunday evening.
On Election Day, vote at your assigned polling place, not just any site in the county. Early morning, lunchtime, and the hours right before polls close tend to be the busiest. If you want to avoid lines, don’t show up at the last minute.
Confirm your polling location before you leave the house. Poll sites sometimes change, and it’s easy to check your assigned spot on your sample ballot.
Don’t forget to bring a valid photo ID. There’s a full list of accepted IDs on the Florida Division of Elections website.
What appears on your ballot depends on your party registration. Republicans see one set of races, Democrats another. Independents and voters in minor parties can weigh in on nonpartisan contests.
If you still have a mail ballot, you’re out of time to send it by mail. You can only submit it at an election office or designated drop-off spot, as they won’t accept mail ballots at polling places on Tuesday.
This primary will settle a host of key races. By the end of the night, we’ll know which candidates are heading to the November midterms. If you plan to vote, have a plan, know where you’re going, bring your ID, and don’t wait until the last minute.
Voting Information by County:
Click here for Sarasota County.
Click here for Charlotte County.
Click here for Lee County.
Click here for the Florida Division of Elections website.
