Florida Primary Election 2026: The Florida State Primary Election of 2026 has become close and is approaching soon, with voters getting ready to elect nominees from their respective political parties in statewide races, congressional races, and legislative races. The primary elections will take place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
There are more than 13.4 million registered voters in Florida, with around 5.57 million registered Republicans, 4.04 million registered Democrats, 3.32 million registered independent voters, and 493,000 registered minor party voters according to state data from June 30.
When is Florida’s Primary Election 2026?
Florida Primary Election Day is August 18, 2026 and the deadline to register or change party affiliation was July 20, while the deadline to request a vote by mail ballot was August 6.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Election Date & Time
Election Day falls on a Tuesday and polling places across Florida will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Voters still in line at 7 p.m. can cast a ballot.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Polling Hours
- Election Day: August 18
- Opening time: 7 a.m. local time
- Closing time: 7 p.m. local time
- Florida operates across Eastern and Central time zones.
- Voters in line at closing time remain eligible to vote.
Florida Primary Election 2026: What Is On The Ballot?
There are many different ballots depending on the district and county as there are statewide offices that include as Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture. There may also be elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Senate and Florida House.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Who Can Vote in the Florida Primary?
- U.S. citizens who qualify according to the voting criteria in Florida can register.
- The voter must be registered prior to the deadline date.
- Affiliation with a political party usually means the candidate is chosen in the primary of that party.
- Ballots with non-party elections may also be included.
- The voter should make sure he has viewed the sample ballot of his county.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Key Candidates to Watch
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 / no-party candidates
The official list also includes candidates running without a major-party affiliation including Dean Ocean Abrams, Charles Burkett, Moliere “Moe” Dimache, Frank J. Russo, Kathy Anderson, Erik Morris, Scott Ekhard Jewett and others.
The Republican primary is particularly important, with Byron Donalds currently leading the GOP field in recent polling. A poll reported this week showed Donalds well ahead of the other Republican candidates while some counties may offer additional early voting days outside the mandatory August 8–15 period.
Congressional, State Legislative & Local Races
Voters in different districts will also decide party nominees for:
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Florida Senate
- Florida House of Representatives
- County, school board, and local offices, depending on their jurisdiction.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Is Florida a Closed Primary State?
Yes. Florida is a closed primary state. Typically, one needs to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote in a party’s primary. The last day for the party registration for the primary in 2026 was July 20.
Florida Primary Election 2026: When Is The General Election?
The 2026 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The deadline for registration is October 5, while the deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is October 22. The general election will include contests for statewide offices, the U.S. House, Florida Legislature and various judicial, county and municipal positions.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Do You Need a Photo ID?
- Yes, usually the voters require a valid and current photo ID with signature.
- The ID cards accepted are Florida Driver’s License, Florida ID Card and United States Passport.
- The ID cards accepted are Student ID, Military ID, Retirement Center ID and Public Assistance ID.
- In case of a voter not having ID, he can vote on the basis of Provisional Ballot in Florida.
Florida Primary Election 2026: When Do Polls Open and Close?
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time on August 18 as florida election officials advise voters to confirm their assigned polling location because locations can change.
When Will Florida Primary Election Results Be Announced?
The unofficial results will start to be reported after the polling stations are closed at 7 p.m. local time. Official results will only be reported after the completion of the necessary procedures. As of now, on August 17, there have been no results of any 2026 primaries reported since the election day is still not here.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Last Year Result
There were no similar state-wide primaries in Florida in 2025 and the turnout for the last state-wide primary held in August in 2024 was around 22%-23% in Florida based on information from the Florida elections. This low turnout is another reason why turnout may be an important factor in 2026.
Florida Primary Election 2026: Important Dates
| Election milestone | 2026 date |
| Registration/party-change deadline | July 20 |
| Vote-by-mail request deadline | August 6 |
| Mandatory early voting | August 8-15 |
| Primary Election Day | August 18 |
| General registration deadline | October 5 |
| General vote-by-mail request deadline | October 22 |
| General Election Day | November 3 |
Florida counties may provide additional early-voting days, so voters should check their local Supervisor of Elections.
Why Is the Florida Primary Important?
The August 18 primary election is a step towards determining who advances to the November ballot in Florida’s critical contests. The latest numbers indicate that there are 13.43 million active registered voters in Florida and there are about 1.53 million more Republicans than Democrats.
Disclaimer: Election dates, candidates and voting procedures can change. Check Florida election officials or your county Supervisor before voting.
