Red Surge: Florida Republicans Dominate Early Midterm Turnout
Florida’s 2026 Primary Election: What You Need to Know Before You Vote
Published: August 17, 2026 • 8:45 a.m. ET
By: C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY Network-Florida
The Big Picture: Lots of People Are Voting Early!
As of August 16, 2026, over 1.8 million Floridians have already cast their ballots for the primary election. That’s about 13.5% of all registered voters in the state — and the number keeps growing!
Important Point: Florida is a "closed primary" state. This means you can ONLY vote for candidates from the political party you’re registered with. If you’re registered as a Republican, you vote in the Republican primary. If you’re a Democrat, you vote in the Democratic primary. No Party Affiliation voters can only vote in nonpartisan races.
How Are People Voting?
There are two main ways to vote before Election Day:
1. Vote-by-Mail (Absentee Ballots)
- You request a ballot, fill it out at home, and mail it back or drop it off.
- Democrats are leading here — they’ve sent in 72,399 more mail ballots than Republicans.
2. Early In-Person Voting
- You go to a polling location before Election Day and vote in person.
- Republicans are leading here — nearly 158,000 more Republicans have shown up at early voting sites.
The Numbers So Far (As of 11 a.m. Aug. 16)
| Method | Republicans | Democrats | No Party / Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote-by-Mail | 417,845 | 490,244 | 169,862 | 1,077,951 |
| Early In-Person | 420,102 | 262,309 | 56,377 | 738,788 |
| TOTAL CAST | 837,947 | 752,553 | 226,239 | 1,816,739 |
Still Outstanding: There are 852,659 vote-by-mail ballots that haven’t been returned yet! Many could still come in.
Key Dates to Remember
Early Voting
- Started: August 10 (some counties began even earlier)
- Extended through Sunday, August 17 in 11 large counties:
- Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Leon, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota
Primary Election Day
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Polls open: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
General Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Polls open: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
What’s on the Ballot?
The biggest race is for Florida Governor, but you’ll also see:
- U.S. Senate & House races
- State legislature seats
- Local offices (mayor, county commission, school board)
- Possibly local referendums or amendments
Want a voter guide? Check out the Tallahassee.com 2026 Primary Voter Guide for candidate info.
Important Reminders
CALLOUT: DON’T FORGET THESE!
- Bring valid photo ID to the polls (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
- Check your polling location — it may have changed!
- Vote-by-mail ballots must be RECEIVED by 7 p.m. on Election Day (postmarks don’t count in Florida)
- You can track your mail ballot online at the Florida Division of Elections website
Step-by-Step: How to Vote on Election Day
- Confirm you’re registered — Check at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov
- Find your polling place — Use the state’s Voter Information Lookup
- Bring your ID — Florida requires a photo ID with signature
- Go between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18
- Vote your ballot — Follow instructions carefully
- Submit and get your "I Voted" sticker!
Summary
- 1.8M+ Floridians have already voted early or by mail
- Republicans lead in early in-person voting, Democrats lead in vote-by-mail
- Florida’s closed primary means you vote only in your party’s races
- Primary Day: August 18 | General Election: November 3
- Polls open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on both days
- 852K+ mail ballots still out — final turnout could be much higher!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I vote in the primary if I’m registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA)?
Only in nonpartisan races (like school board, judges, or local referendums). You cannot vote for partisan offices like Governor, U.S. Senate, or state legislature unless you’re registered with that party.
2. What if I requested a vote-by-mail ballot but want to vote in person instead?
You can! Bring your mail ballot to the polling place and surrender it, or tell the poll worker you want to vote in person. They’ll void the mail ballot and give you a regular one.
3. Do I need to bring my voter registration card to vote?
No — you just need a valid photo ID with your signature (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID, etc.). The registration card helps but isn’t required.
4. Can someone else drop off my vote-by-mail ballot for me?
Yes, but only immediate family members or legal guardians can return it for you — and they can only do so for up to two other voters per election.
5. What happens if I’m in line when polls close at 7 p.m.?
You still get to vote! As long as you’re in line by 7:00 p.m., you have the right to cast your ballot.
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