To help you dig into the issues and vote with confidence, we present a collection of links to debates, Q&As and information about the races and candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Important dates to know

Monday, Oct. 19: First day of early voting

Thursday, Oct. 22: Deadline to request a mail ballot

Sunday, Nov. 1: Last day of early voting

Tuesday, Nov. 3: General Election Day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Candidate debate replays

(The Tallahassee Democrat conducts a series of livestreamed candidate forums in partnership with the League of Women Voters and the Capital Region News Collaborative, which is powered by Press Forward North Florida, an initiative of the Community Foundation of North Florida. The media collaborative includes the Tallahassee Democrat, WFSU, WCTV, WTXL, the Capital Outlook and Tallahassee Reports. Click on the links below or visit our YouTube Page general election playlist to watch a free replay of each of the candidate forums.)

Forums were broadcast live at the Tallahassee Democrat’s Facebook page, the Tallahassee Democrat’s YouTube Channel and on Tallahassee.com. They are archived on our YouTube page under the playlist “2026 General Election Candidate Forums.”

2026 general election guide

The Democrat also puts together a voter guide for subscribers that puts the candidates head-to-head on the issues. Almost every race that may appear on your ballot is covered.

Access the print/e-edition version of our election guide

Our print election guide appears in the newspaper in the Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 editions. Grab a copy at gas stations, Walmart, Publix or pharmacies near you.

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Early voting dates, times, placesSee the candidates, their supporters at election night watch parties

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Democratic candidate for Congressional District 2 Amanda Marie Green shares what she is most proud of about her campaign Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 10 locations in Leon County. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all sites except the Leon County Courthouse, which is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the elections center, which has hours of 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Leon County voters can cast ballots at any of the following early voting sites regardless of their precinct:

Dr. B.L. Perry Branch Library, 2817 S. Adams St.

Eastside Branch Library, 1583 Pedrick Road

FAMU Efferson Student Union, 1628 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

FSU Student Union, 75 N. Woodward Ave.

Fort Braden Community Center, 16387 Blountstown Highway

Leon County Elections Center, 2990-1 Apalachee Parkway

Lake Jackson Community Center, 3840 N. Monroe St.

Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe St.

Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch Library, 5513 Thomasville Road

Woodville Community Center, 8000 Old Woodville Road

What to know about Vote-by-MailA closer look at Florida candidates Byron Donalds, David Jolly on issues

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All vote-by-mail ballots expire at the end of each election year because of changes in Florida law. That means voters who requested a ballot in 2024 must against request a ballot this year to receive one for the primary and general elections.

The deadline to ask the elections office to send voters a mail ballot is Oct. 22. However, voters can pick up a mail ballot in person at the elections office through Election Day. To request a mail ballot, visit LeonVotes.gov/RequestVBM or call 850-606-8683.

Mail ballots must be in the hands of the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, for them to count.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends people send their vote-by-mail ballots back to the Supervisor of Elections at least one week before Election Day. As in 2024, the elections office is covering the cost of postage for return envelopes, which means voters don’t have to worry about stamps.

Voters can also drop mail ballots off at drop boxes (now known as Secure Ballot Intake Stations) during voting hours at any of the early voting locations or the elections office on Apalachee Parkway during regular business hours.

Election Day voting hours and ID requirements

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can find their voting location on their Voter Information Card or by visiting LeonVotes.gov or calling the elections office at 850-606-VOTE (8683).

Voters must present a current physical address and a valid photo ID when voting in person. The ID must come from the following list:

Florida identification card

Neighborhood association ID

Concealed weapon/firearm license

Employee ID issued by local, state or federal government agency

Voters who don’t bring ID can still vote with a provisional ballot. Voters must present a current physical address and a valid photo ID when voting in person. The ID must come from the following list:

Florida identification card

U.S. passport or passport card

U.S. uniformed services or Merchant Marine ID

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs veteran health ID card

Concealed weapon/firearm license

Any other ID card issued by a federal, state, county, or municipal government agency (excluding IDs issued by educational institutions)

Voters who don’t bring ID can still vote with a provisional ballot. The ballot will be counted if election officials later determine the voter was eligible and the it otherwise

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: The ultimate Tallahassee voter guide to the 2026 general election