What Florida voters are electing on Aug. 18, 2026
Florida voters are casting ballots in the state’s primary election on Aug. 18, 2026, choosing party nominees for major offices like governor, Congress, and other state and local races. Some counties also have nonpartisan contests on the ballot, including school board, judicial, and county commission races.
The primary is not the general election. In Florida, voters are deciding which candidates advance to November, while some local races may be settled in the primary depending on the field and rules in each county.
What is on the ballot
The exact ballot varies by county, but statewide coverage shows these categories are in play:
- Statewide partisan primaries, including governor and U.S. Senate in some coverage.
- U.S. House primary races in affected districts.
- Local offices such as county commission, mayor, school board, and judicial races in some counties.
Florida’s primary is also the first statewide election using newly redrawn congressional districts, which adds extra attention to the U.S. House races.
Voting details
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time on Election Day, and voters who are in line by 7:00 p.m. are still allowed to vote.
Voters must cast an in-person ballot at their assigned polling place, and vote-by-mail ballots must arrive by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to count.
Why it matters
This election matters because Florida’s primaries often decide which candidates have a real shot in the fall, especially in closely divided districts and local nonpartisan races.
For many voters, Aug. 18 is the first and sometimes only chance to influence who appears on the November ballot.