With the general election three weeks away, the pace is picking up, and there are a couple of key deadlines coming up.
If you haven't registered to vote and you're not listed as an active voter, you will not be able to vote on Nov. 3. That deadline passed Oct. 5.
If you want to vote by mail, you have until next week to ask for a ballot to be sent to you.
Early voting also begins next week.
All registered voters will be able to vote in the midterm election, on races ranging from the state's next governor to a constitutional amendment on homestead property tax exemptions.
Here's everything you need to know about upcoming deadlines.
When is the 2026 Florida general election?
The Florida general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.
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.
There are 3 ways to vote in Florida
- Vote by mail
- Early voting
- Election Day, Nov. 3
Key deadlines coming up for 2026 general election in Florida
Here are all the upcoming election deadlines to be aware of:
- Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Oct. 22
- Early votingperiod: Oct. 24-31. Counties can extend those dates.
- Election Day: Nov. 3
What is the 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.
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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
Do I need a reason to vote by mail?
No. If you are a registered voter and requested a vote-by-mail ballot by the Oct. 22 deadline, you can vote by mail.
How many Florida voters have asked for mail-in ballot?
As of Oct. 12, 1,775,877 voters have requested, but not yet returned, a vote-by-mail ballot, previously known as an absentee ballot. Of those, the majority are Democrats, with the breakdown as follows:
- Democrat: 764,570
- Republican: 601,617
- No party affiliation: 365,869
- Other: 43,821
How many vote-by-mail ballots have been returned in Florida?
As of Oct. 12, the Florida Division of Elections has received 501,290 vote-by-mail ballots, with more ballots returned by Democrats:
- Democrats: 215,454
- Republicans: 180,210
- No party affiliation: 93,253
- Other: 12,373
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.
Why is it called a midterm election?
A presidential election happens every four years. The next one will be in 2028.
An election held mid-way between presidential elections is referred to as a midterm election.
Here's how to tell if you are registered to vote in Florida
Not sure whether you’re registered to vote? The Florida Department of State offers an online a Voter Information Lookup where you can quickly check your registration status.
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.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Want to vote by mail? Deadline to request Florida ballot coming soon
