Here’s the latest updates from Florida’s 2026 primary:
6:39 p.m.: More than 1.2 million have voted in Florida today
Florida’s Division of Elections reports that Primary Election Day turnout officially has surpassed 1.239 million voters as of 6:30 p.m. today.
That’s in addition to the 1.97 million who voted early and by mail.
The state said there have been 33,076 voters so far today in Lake County, 58,944 in Orange, 12,858 in Osceola, 32,701 in Seminole and 40,158 in Volusia.
Florida polls close at 7 p.m. local time. However, since Florida has two time zones (Central and Eastern), preliminary election night results will not be released by the state until 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
What to know for election day
Florida’s Primary Election Day is finally here, and here are some key facts you should know:
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. You must vote at your assigned polling location. Double-check your Voter Information Card or visit your county supervisor of elections website to find your voting record to see where you should vote.
You must bring a photo ID to the polls. Without ID, or if a voter’s eligibility cannot be determined, voters will receive a provisional ballot, which will not be counted on Election Day and will be reviewed afterward by a canvassing board.
If you encounter problems at the polls, please let us know. Send us information at OrlandoSentinel.com/tips
Need help deciding on who to vote for? You can check out our Orlando Sentinel Voters Guide at OrlandoSentinel.com/votersguide with information about candidates in key statewide and local races. You can also see which candidates our editorial board has endorsed in the primary election at OrlandoSentinel.com/endorse.
Follow our Florida Primary live blog with the latest election news from Central Florida and the state at OrlandoSentinel.com
Get Central Florida and statewide primary results at OrlandoSentinel.com after the polls close at 7 p.m.
Check Wednesday’s e-edition for election results and complete coverage of the primary in Thursday’s print edition.
Read election day updates below:
Angie Gallo, candidate for Orange County School Board chair, speaks at Renaissance Senior Center, a polling location in east Orlando, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is surrounded by state Rep. Anna Eskamani, state Senator Carlos Smith and U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost. (Michael Cuglietta/Orlando Sentinel)
Voters enter Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Chris Messina, candidate for Orange County Mayor, meets with supporters outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Left to Right, James Pericola, Democratic candidate for Florida’s 11th Congressional District, campaigns with his son, Leo, 15, outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Samuel Vilchez Santiago, candidate for House of Representatives District 43, greets voters outside the Renaissance Senior Center in east Orlando on Tuesday where he cast his ballot at 7 a.m. (MIchael Cuglietta/Orlando Sentinel)
C.J. Goodyear campaigns for his mom, Orange County judge candidate Joy Goodyear, outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Erin Huntley, Republican candidate for Florida House District 45, records a video with her husband, Eric outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Candidate signs outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Citizens enter to vote at Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Candidate signs outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
Precinct 119 & 120 sign outside the Quay Church in Windermere, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)
A car enters Precinct 521 at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex on Florida Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Wesley Alden/Orlando Sentinel)
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Angie Gallo, candidate for Orange County School Board chair, speaks at Renaissance Senior Center, a polling location in east Orlando, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. She is surrounded by state Rep. Anna Eskamani, state Senator Carlos Smith and U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost. (Michael Cuglietta/Orlando Sentinel)
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12:56 p.m.: Candidates show up
Some candidates were stumping at the polls. Chris Messina, for instance, a candidate for Orange County Mayor, met with supporters outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere.
James Pericola, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 11th Congressional District, campaigned with his son, Leo, 15, outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere.
Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a candidate for Florida House of Representatives District 43, greeted voters outside the Renaissance Senior Center in east Orlando on Tuesday where he cast his ballot at 7 a.m.
C.J. Goodyear campaigns for his mom, Orange County judge candidate Joy Goodyear, outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere.
Erin Huntley, a Republican candidate for Florida House District 45, campaigned with her husband, Eric, outside Precincts 119 & 120 at the Quay Church in Windermere.
Precinct 521 at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex on Florida Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Wesley Alden/Orlando Sentinel)
A car enters Precinct 521 at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex on Florida Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Wesley Alden/Orlando Sentinel)
Orange County sticker reads, “I just voted! Have you?” (Wesley Alden/Orlando Sentinel)
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Precinct 521 at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex on Florida Primary Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Wesley Alden/Orlando Sentinel)
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12:23 p.m.: Department of Justice to monitor Miami-Dade polls
As voters hit the polls Tuesday morning, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was sending four Civil Rights Division attorneys to monitor polling sites in Miami-Dade County as part of its efforts to ensure compliance with federal voting-rights laws. Tuesday’s announcement comes as voters head to the polls for the first election under Florida’s newly redrawn congressional map to choose nominees in a series of high-profile races, including the Republican contest for governor and the race for representative in Florida’s 24th congressional district. Read more.
– Miami Herald
8:45 a.m.: Slow going early on, but don’t worry, there’s A/C
Voters slowly trickled in Tuesday morning to Precinct 521 at the Marks Street Senior Recreation in Orlando. Of the eight voting stations, five were occupied at 8:45 a.m. Poll workers from the League of Women Voters of Orange County asked people as they approached the building if they were there to vote or work out — and, if needed, directed them to the voting area where they pointed out the air conditioning was on. The high today in Orlando is 97.
– Wesley Alden
6 a.m.: Fewer Florida Republicans voted by mail but more opted to vote early
More Florida Republicans opted to vote early in person than by mail in this year’s primary election, a sharp turnabout from the last open governor’s race, results posted Monday by the state Division of Elections show.
As of Monday, about 422,000 Republicans voted by mail, compared to just over 621,000 in 2018, the state reported. That was the last midyear election where state voters chose a new governor, leading to two hotly contested Democratic and Republican primaries.
By contrast, the number of Republicans voting in person skyrocketed this year, from nearly 300,000 in 2018 to almost 450,000, state records show. Read more.
– Jeffrey Schweers