Turnout during the midterms is typically much lower than in years when presidential candidates are on the ballot. But Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said the irony is that it should be \u201cflip-flopped.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone gets all excited when the president\u2019s on the ballot,\u201d Corley said. \u201cWell, I think the real action (is) at the local level, quite honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corley said the midterms focus more on state and local offices, where the races have a greater impact on people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about the power that we give a county commissioner, for example,\u201d he said. \u201cYou look at all the growth, the infrastructure, the roads, the environment, that\u2019s all done at the county level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Floridians do have national races on the ballot this election: the U.S. House and a special election to fill former Sen. Marco Rubio\u2019s position. But the real action, as Corley said, is at the state and local levels, where voters will decide on a new governor, State House and Senate seats, school boards, and more.<\/p>\n
Here are the key deadlines to ensure your voice is heard.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Key dates<\/p>\n
Primary Election 2026<\/p>\n
Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation: July 20<\/p>\n
Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Aug. 6<\/p>\n
Early voting period (mandatory period): Aug. 8-15<\/p>\n
Contact Supervisor of Elections<\/a> for optional days of early voting<\/p>\n Election Day: Aug. 18<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n General Election 2026<\/p>\n Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 5<\/p>\n Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Oct. 22<\/p>\n Early voting period (mandatory period): Oct. 24-31<\/p>\n Contact Supervisor of Elections for optional days of early voting<\/p>\n Election Day: Nov. 3<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n How to register to vote<\/p>\n Online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov<\/a><\/p>\n Through any tax collector\u2019s office that issues FL driver\u2019s licenses or state ID cards.<\/p>\n You can also submit voter registration information online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when you renew your driver\u2019s license or ID card.<\/p>\n Through voter registration agencies<\/a><\/p>\n By mail or in person.<\/p>\n Statewide voter registration application form (DS-DE 39) is available under Forms<\/a> to prefill and print or download.<\/p>\n For any other questions, call or email your county Supervisor of Elections<\/a><\/p>\n SPECIAL NOTE: If you have been issued a new state driver\u2019s license number or Florida ID card number by the FDHSMV since you registered, contact your Supervisor of Elections to ensure that your voter record reflects the latest number.<\/p>\n To be eligible to vote, you must:<\/p>\n Be a citizen of the United States of America;<\/p>\n Be a legal Florida resident;<\/p>\n Be a legal resident of the county where you want to register;<\/p>\n Be at least 18 years old (You can pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old);<\/p>\n Not be a person who has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored; and,<\/p>\n Not be a person convicted of a felony without having your right to vote restored.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n You will also need:<\/p>\n Your Florida driver\u2019s license or Florida identification card issued by the FDHSMV;<\/p>\n The issued date of your Florida driver\u2019s license or Florida ID card; and<\/p>\n The last four digits of your Social Security number.<\/p>\n The deadline to register to vote for an upcoming election is 29 days before the election.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Vote by mail<\/p>\n \u00a0You can request a mail ballot through your Supervisor of Elections office. Ballots must be received at those offices by Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Click on your county for information on requesting a mail-in ballot:<\/p>\n Hillsborough County<\/a><\/p>\n Pinellas County<\/a><\/p>\n Pasco County<\/a><\/p>\n Manatee County<\/a><\/p>\n All other counties<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Early voting<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t want to mail your ballot or wait in line on election day, you can also vote early. Here are the dates and locations in the Tampa Bay region to cast your ballot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Aug. 18 primary election<\/p>\n Hillsborough<\/a>: Aug. 3-16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.<\/p>\n Pinellas<\/a>: Aug. 8-16, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.<\/p>\n Manatee<\/a>: Aug. 8-16, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.<\/p>\n Pasco<\/a>: Aug. 8-15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Nov. 3 general election<\/p>\n Hillsborough<\/a>: Oct. 19-Nov. 1, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.<\/p>\n Pinellas<\/a>: Oct. 19-Nov. 1, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.<\/p>\n Manatee: Not available yet.<\/p>\n