Florida Election Officials Set Deadlines for August 18 Primary

Election officials across Florida are preparing residents for the August 18, 2026, Primary Election. In Sarasota County, Ron Turner announced that voters must register or change their party affiliation by July 20 to participate, adhering to the state requirement that registration occur at least 29 days before an election.

Florida operates as a closed-primary state, meaning voters generally only participate in contests for the party with which they are registered. In Pasco County, Supervisor Brian Corley defended the security of the vote-by-mail system, explaining that voters must request ballots and provide validation using a driver's license or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The deadline to request these mail-in ballots is August 6 at 5 p.m., with early voting scheduled from August 7 to August 15.

In Citrus County, Supervisor Maureen Baird is coordinating updates following legislative redistricting. New voter information cards have been mailed to residents to reflect changes, including a shift from congressional District 12 to District 15 and various polling location adjustments.