Florida’s primary elections are over, and attention now turns to the Nov. 3 general election. Voters will decide who will fill key state and federal offices, including the next governor and one of Florida’s seats
in the U.S. Senate.
Also on the ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment on homestead property tax exemptions. To vote in the general election, Floridians must be registered by Oct. 5. Early voting is scheduled statewide for Oct. 24-31, with some counties offering additional days.
Here are three key deadlines every Florida voter should know, along with early voting dates and locations across Northeast Florida.
When is the 2026 Florida general election?
The Florida general election day will be Nov. 3, 2026, two days after we turn clocks back an hour for the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 1, unless the U.S. Senate approves the Sunshine Protection Actand President Trump signs it into law.
If you want to vote, here are three deadlines you need to know.
Key deadlines for the 2026 general election
- Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 5
- Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Oct. 22
- Early voting period: Oct. 19-Nov. 1
- Election Day: Nov. 3
No. 1: Voter registration deadline for Florida general election
The last day to register to voteor update your registration information, including making any party affiliation changes, is Oct. 5.
How can I check my voter registration status?
To check if you're an active registered voter in Florida, go to the Florida Department of State's Voter Information Lookup website.
You'll need to enter:
- Your first and last name
- Birth date
If you're listed as an active voter, you are eligible to vote.
How do I register to vote in Florida?
Not registered? You can download the voter registration application on the Florida Department of State website: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
- Your most current and valid Florida driver license (Florida DL) or Florida Identification (Florida ID) card
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
If you do not have the required information, you can still use the online system to prefill an online voter registration application form that you can print. Sign it and either mail it to your county Supervisor of Elections office or drop it off.
You can also apply to register to vote in person at:
- Any Supervisor of Elections’ office (by mail or in person)
- Any office that issues Florida driver's licenses or Florida ID cards
- Any voter registration agency such as a public assistance office
- Any voter registration drive by an organization that has met Florida's updated standards
- Any public library
No. 2: Deadline to ask for a mail-in ballot
If you're voting by mail, you need to request a vote-by-mail ballot by 5 p.m. Oct. 22.
➤ Supreme Court won't clear way for Trump's mailed ballot rules
Remember that vote-by-mail ballots must be received by election officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
A request for a vote-by-mail ballot must be made to the Supervisor of Elections in the county where you are registered. You can make the request:
- in writing using Form DS-DE 160
- in person or
- by phone
No. 3: Election Day arrives Nov. 3
The general election will be held Nov. 3.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and you must vote at your precinct.
Any voter standing in line at 7 p.m. (local time) in their county is eligible to cast a vote.
Bonus: Early voting in Florida lasts at least 8 days before general election
Early votingfor the general election begins no later than Oct. 24 and runs through Oct. 31.
However, counties may add additional days. Check with your local election offices for days and early-voting locations in your county.
You'll be able to vote at any of the available early-voting locations.
Where can I vote in Northeast Florida?
- Clay County: Voters can find their polling place at the Clay County Supervisor of Elections website.
- Duval County: Voters can find their polling place at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website.
- St. Johns County: Voters can find their polling place at the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections website.
- Nassau County: Voters can find their polling place at the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections website.
Want to vote early? See where and when early voting starts in Clay County for the 2026 general election
General election early voting in Clay County will take place from Friday, October 23 to Saturday, October 31, 2026. From 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Find poll locations here.
Want to vote early? See where and when early voting starts in Duval for the 2026 general election
General electionearly voting in Duval County will take place from Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to Sunday, November 1, 2026.
- Tuesday, October 20 - Friday, October 23, 2026, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24 - Sunday, October 25, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30, 2026, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31 - Sunday, November 1, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find early voting locations.
Want to vote early? See early voting in St. Johns County dates for the 2026 general election
General election early voting in St. Johns County will take place from Wednesday, October 21 to Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.
Find early voting locations below:
- Ponte Vedra Branch Library: 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.
- The Players Community Senior Ctr, 175 Landrum Ln, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
- Julington Creek Annex: 725 Flora Branch Blvd, St. Johns, FL 32259
- RiverHouse at RiverTown: 140 Landing St, St. Johns, FL 32259
- St. Johns County Convention Ctr: 500 S. Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092
- Supervisor of Elections Office: 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101, St. Augustine, FL 32095
- Solomon Calhoun Community Ctr: 1300 Duval St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- St. Augustine Beach City Hall: 2200 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080
- Southeast Branch Library: 6670 US 1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086
- W.E. Harris Community Ctr: 400 E. Harris St, Hastings, FL 32145
There are 3 ways to vote in Florida
- Vote by mail
- Early voting
- Election Day
All deadlines for Florida's 2026 general election
Here are all the key deadlines to be aware of:
- Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters: Sept. 19, 2026
- Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters: Sept. 24 - Oct. 1, 2026
- Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 5, 2026
- Deadline to request that ballot be mailed: Oct. 22, 2026
- Early voting period (mandatory period): Oct. 24-31, 2026
- Counties can expand the early-voting period
- Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026
Is Ron DeSantis running for governor again?
No. Gov. Ron DeSantis cannot run again for governor because he has already served two consecutive terms. No one can run for three terms in a row, according to Article IV of the Florida Constitution.
DeSantis leaves the Florida governor's mansion on Jan. 5, 2027.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 3 key voter deadlines to know before Florida's Nov. 3 general election
