Candidates’ signs were displayed outside the Coral Gables Branch Library early voting center during the last weekend of early voting ahead of the Aug. 18 primary election.
Pedro Portal
pportal@miamiherald.com
With Tuesday’s election on the horizon, voters and candidates are making a final push this weekend to bank ballots in primary races that will decide who represents Democrats and Republicans in winner-take-all contests this November for federal and state offices, including Florida governor and U.S. Senate.
More than 1.6 million people had voted in Florida through late Saturday morning, including close to a quarter-million voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, according to the Florida Division of Elections. But candidates and even politicians not on the ballot were out on Friday and Saturday to promote voting and get in one last pitch at anyone heading in to cast their vote.
“It’s really important to show up, and we know that turnout is not going to be what it should be,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who accompanied Annette Taddeo, a Democrat running to be Florida’s chief financial officer, to the voting center at the Coral Gables Library. “The more we can show people that it is super important to vote in every election, certainly this primary election is critical.”
Candidates running to be Florida’s next governor — the headliner among the contests on Tuesday’s ballots — were expected to push a similar message in South Florida and around the state over the next three days.
Congressman and Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds has scheduled a get-out-the-vote rally for Monday evening in Sunny Isles Beach. Former Congressman David Jolly, the favorite in the Democratic primary, is holding an election night party in Miami Lakes with his running mate, Gwen Graham, who spent part of Saturday at a Souls to the Polls event in south Dade.
Residents walk into the Coral Gables Branch Library to vote on Saturday August 15, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
On Friday, progressive and democratic socialist candidates rallied with hundreds of voters in Fort Lauderdale. On Sunday, James Fishback, an upstart provocateur running in the GOP primary for governor, is expected at multiple stops in South Florida.
Voters who arrived early at the Coral Gables Library on Saturday were able to catch Levine Cava and Taddeo as they cast their votes.
“It’s really important to take advantage of it and not wait till Election Day,” said Taddeo. “You never know if you get busy or if it starts raining.”
Candidate for U.S. Congress V. Michael Arias hands out a flyer to a resident outside of the Coral Gables Branch Library poll site, during the last weekend of early voting, looking ahead to Tuesday’s election, on Saturday August 15, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
South Florida residents have until Sunday to participate in early voting ahead of the Aug. 18 election. There are 23 voting sites in Miami-Dade and 21 in Broward. Miami-Dade’s voting locations close at 4 p.m., while in Broward the deadline is 7 p.m.
READ MORE: Early voting begins Monday in South Florida. Here’s what to know
Polls open on Election Day at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. to anyone who is not already lined up to vote. Mail-in ballots must be in the custody of the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day to count. The window to request a vote-by-mail ballot has passed.
Forrest Jones, 82, is one such early voter who chose vote-by-mail. He was at the Coral Gables Library Saturday only to check out some books.
Jones said he prefers to vote by mail because it gives him time to research and think about whom to vote for. During this election season, he said he is prioritizing Democratic candidates, having been disappointed by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Early voters fill out their ballots at the North Dade Regional Library on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Miami Gardens. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
“Any decent human being that’s running for office we will vote for,” said Jones, who was accompanied by his wife. “It all feeds up to the top, and hopefully some people at the top don’t feed down.”
Voters Justin Gray and Betsy Sherwood made sure to bring their 5-year-old daughter with them to the library, as they’ve instilled in her the importance of civic engagement. Gray’s father, William H. Gray III, served in the Democratic Party and represented Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district.
“I think one of the most important things you can do is show the next generation why it’s so important to participate in the electoral process,” said Gray, a business consultant, who recalled coming to vote as a child with his family.
Attendees cheer as Oliver Larkin, who is running for the U.S. House of Representative District 25, speaks during the Chomp The Oligarchy rally at Sidewalk Bottleshop on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
Over at the North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens, a steady influx of voters walked into the building as they dodged eager campaign staffers handing out political flyers in the parking lot, hoping to win last-minute votes for their candidates.
The library was also hosting Souls to the Polls, Florida’s faith-based tradition to mobilize voters. Speakers were blaring hip hop music. The smell of grilled meats was in the air. Vendors sold snow cones. There was even a performance from traditional Bahamian dancers, transforming the scene outside the library into something resembling a neighborhood block party.
At least two Democratic candidates — state Rep. Angie Nixon and state Sen. Shevrin Jones — stopped by to talk with campaign staffers and organizers. Nixon, who is running for U.S. Senate, said early voting is important because it ensures that everyone can vote even if they can’t make it to the polls on actual Election Day.
Timothy Hubbert makes his way toward the North Dade Regional Library during early voting on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
“It’s really important to vote early because there have been a few cases on Election Day where major storms have come or hurricanes have come and people haven’t been able to get out,” Nixon said. “Voting is a right.”
Lifetime Miami Gardens resident Kristal Harrington showed up early to vote with her mother and grandmother. The women said they did their research and chose candidates who will help move their community forward to a better place.
“I think our voice matters, and if we don’t go vote, we can’t complain later when things don’t go our way,” said Harrington.
This story was originally published August 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM.
Miami Herald
Milena Malaver covers crime and breaking news for the Miami Herald. She was born and raised in Miami-Dade and is a graduate of Florida International University. She joined the Herald shortly after graduating.
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Miami Herald
Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.