Key Dates for Florida Voters
The 2026 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. For those planning to vote, several deadlines are critical. The deadline to register to vote for the general election was October 5, 2026. Voters wishing to receive a ballot by mail must have requested one by October 22. The mandatory early voting period runs from October 24 to October 31, though some counties may offer additional days. Voters are encouraged to check with their local Supervisor of Elections for specific early voting schedules in their area.
The Race for Governor
With incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis term-limited, the race to lead Florida is wide open. The Republican nominee is Byron Donalds, a current U.S. Representative. He faces Democrat
David Jolly, a former Republican U.S. Representative who later left the party. Recent polling indicates a competitive race. One poll from early October shows Donalds leading Jolly, while another from late September showed Jolly with a narrow lead. The race is expected to focus on key issues for Floridians, including the economy, housing affordability, and education.
Special Election for U.S. Senate
Florida voters will also decide a crucial special election for the U.S. Senate. The seat became vacant when former Senator Marco Rubio resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State. Governor DeSantis appointed Ashley Moody, the state's former Attorney General, to fill the seat on an interim basis. Moody is now the Republican nominee, running to complete the remainder of the term, which expires in January 2029. Her Democratic opponent is Angie Nixon, a state representative from Jacksonville who won her primary in August. Recent polling from Stetson University shows Moody with a double-digit lead over Nixon among likely voters.
Florida Cabinet and Legislature
In addition to the top-ticket races, all three of Florida's cabinet positions are on the ballot. For Attorney General, incumbent Republican James Uthmeier, who was appointed to the role, faces Democratic challenger Jose Javier Rodriguez, a former state senator. For Chief Financial Officer, appointed Republican incumbent Blaise Ingoglia is running against Democrat Annette Taddeo. And for Agriculture Commissioner, Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson is being challenged by Democrat Joey Atkins. Furthermore, all 120 seats in the Florida House of Representatives and a portion of the 40 State Senate seats are up for election, determining the balance of power in Tallahassee for the next two years.
Major Statewide Ballot Amendments
Floridians will vote on at least three proposed amendments to the state constitution, each requiring 60% approval to pass. Amendment 1 concerns the state's 'rainy day' fund, officially known as the Budget Stabilization Fund. Amendment 2 would create a property tax exemption for tangible personal property, like farm equipment, used for agriculture or agritourism. Amendment 3 is arguably the most impactful, proposing significant changes to property taxes. It would increase the state's homestead exemption in stages and lower the assessment cap for non-homestead properties, potentially leading to major tax cuts for homeowners but also a substantial reduction in revenue for local governments.
