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An early voting site at the Seffner-Mango Branch Library in Seffner, Florida on Aug. 2, 2024. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\nAn early voting site at the Seffner-Mango Branch Library in Seffner, Florida on Aug. 2, 2024. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n
The mailman\u2019s been busy, and that\u2019s because candidates across the Tampa Bay area are rushing to deliver paid messaging about the 2026 primary election, which wraps on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The deadline to register to vote\u2014or change parties\u2014is fast approaching, and there\u2019s a lot to digest on the ballot. We\u2019ll keep diving in during the days leading up to early voting opening, but here\u2019s some basic information to get you started.<\/p>\n
Visit votehillsborough.gov<\/a> and votepinellas.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n Important dates and deadlines in the 2026 Florida primary election<\/p>\n Voter and party registration: Monday, July 20<\/p>\n Florida is a closed-primary state, meaning you independents might not have much to vote on outside of nonpartisan races like the St. Pete Mayoral, judges, school board, and local ballot measures. Get in on the action by making the switch, and then reclaim your independence ahead of the general election.<\/p>\n Mail ballot information for the 2026 Florida primary election<\/p>\n In Hillsborough, the supervisor of elections says, \u201cFor many years now, about a third of our voters have found Vote By Mail to be an easy, reliable method of voting.\u201d Bay News 9 says that, \u201cSince 2010, about half of all ballots cast in Pinellas County have been by mail.\u201d For the 2026 primary, Bay area voters must request them by Thursday, Aug. 6.<\/p>\n To count, mail ballots must be signed by the voter and physically arrive at your supervisors of elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may also drop their mail-in ballots at a secure return location, an early voting site, or the Supervisor of Elections office. Both counties publish secure drop-off location lists closer to the election. Certain forms are required for anyone who\u2019s been designated to pick up a mail ballot for anyone else.\u00a0<\/p>\n Early voting for the 2026 Florida primary election<\/p>\n In Hillsborough, early voting starts on Monday<\/a>, Aug. 3, and runs daily, even on Sundays, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 27 different locations.<\/p>\n Pinellas starts early voting on Saturday, Aug. 8<\/a>. Voting there runs 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends, including Sundays, but so far only three locations are listed.<\/p>\n Early voting in both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties ends after Sunday, Aug. 16.<\/p>\n Election day for the 2026 Florida primary election<\/p>\n It\u2019s on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.\u2014but for chrissake, be like the cool kids and make a plan to vote early because you never know what\u2019s going to happen in your life.<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in July 09 \u2013 15, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t\t\t