Florida’s 2026 primary election is on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The general election follows on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. For voters across Florida’s 14th Congressional District — Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Valrico, and Sun City Center — this guide is the practical walkthrough: how to register, how to vote by mail, how to vote early, and how to vote in person on Election Day.
If you take only one action after reading this: confirm your voter registration status today at votehillsborough.gov. Every other step depends on it.
Step 1: Make Sure You Are Registered to Vote in Florida
To vote in the 2026 primary, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- A Florida resident
- 18 years of age by Election Day (you can pre-register at 16)
- Registered with a political party by July 20, 2026 if you want to vote in that party’s primary
- Not currently incarcerated for a felony, and any voting rights restoration completed if applicable
Florida is a closed primary state. That means you may only vote in a Republican primary if you are registered as a Republican, and you may only vote in a Democratic primary if you are registered as a Democrat. Voters registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA) cannot vote in either party’s primary — they vote only in the November general election.
If you are currently registered NPA in Hillsborough County and want to vote in the Republican primary on August 18, you must change your registration to Republican by July 20, 2026 — 29 days before the primary.
Confirm your current registration status, address, and party affiliation at votehillsborough.gov or registertovoteflorida.gov.
How to Register or Update Your Florida Voter Registration
Florida offers three ways to register or update your voter registration:
- Online at registertovoteflorida.gov. Fastest. Requires a Florida driver’s license or state ID.
- By mail. Download the Florida Voter Registration Application from the Florida Division of Elections, complete it, and mail it to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections at 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602.
- In person at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office, any public library, the county tax collector’s office, or any DHSMV (driver’s license) office.
For the August 18, 2026 primary, the registration and party-change deadline is July 20, 2026. Postmarks count for mail-in registrations sent on or before that date. Online and in-person registrations must be completed by 11:59 PM on July 20.
Voting Options: In-Person, Early Voting, and Vote by Mail
Hillsborough County voters have three ways to cast a ballot.
Vote by Mail. Any registered Florida voter can request a mail ballot — no excuse required. Request your ballot at votehillsborough.gov or by calling the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. Mail ballot requests for the August 18, 2026 primary are due to your Supervisor of Elections by approximately August 11, 2026 (10 days before the election). Completed mail ballots must be received (not just postmarked) by 7 PM on Election Day. Late ballots are not counted, even if mailed in time. You may return your completed mail ballot at any early-voting location or the Supervisor of Elections office, in addition to mailing it back.
Early Voting. Hillsborough County operates early-voting sites in the days leading up to the primary, typically running from approximately August 8, 2026 through August 15, 2026. Any registered Hillsborough County voter can vote at any open early-voting site in the county — you are not restricted to the location nearest your home. Find current early-voting hours and locations at votehillsborough.gov.
Election Day In-Person. On August 18, 2026, polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. You must vote at your assigned precinct on Election Day. Confirm your assigned precinct at votehillsborough.gov before heading out — precincts have shifted in recent cycles and assuming the same site as the previous election can cost a vote.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Voter registration / party change deadline (Primary) | July 20, 2026 |
| Vote-by-mail request deadline | ~August 11, 2026 |
| Early voting period | ~August 8–15, 2026 |
| Primary Election Day | August 18, 2026 (polls 7 AM–7 PM) |
| Vote-by-mail receipt deadline | 7 PM on August 18, 2026 |
| General Election | November 3, 2026 |
These are the working dates for the Florida 2026 cycle. Always confirm at votehillsborough.gov before any deadline — Supervisor of Elections schedules govern.
Hillsborough County Contact Information
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
- Website: votehillsborough.gov
- Address: 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
- Voter registration and party change: register at votehillsborough.gov or in person
Florida Statewide
- Website: registertovoteflorida.gov
- Florida Division of Elections: dos.fl.gov/elections
For Florida’s 14th Congressional District voters, Hillsborough County is the only county that administers your election — your federal congressional ballot, state legislative ballot, county ballot, and judicial ballot all flow through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
Why Your Primary Vote Matters in FL-14
A primary is where the choice gets made. By the time the general election arrives, the candidate list is set. The primary is the moment FL-14 voters decide who stands on the ballot in November.
After nine terms — eighteen years — Kathy Castor’s grip on Tampa Bay has been built on uncompetitive races and low-information primaries. The way to break that pattern is for FL-14 Republicans to participate in the primary, hold a serious nominating contest, and put forward a candidate who can present a real choice in November.
Election integrity matters across both stages. Read our full analysis: election integrity in Florida’s 2026 races. Confidence in the count is what makes a democratic primary worth participating in — and Florida has one of the strongest voter ID, signature-verification, and mail-ballot integrity frameworks in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Florida’s 2026 primary election?
Florida’s 2026 primary election is Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 AM to 7 PM on both election days.
What is the voter registration deadline for Florida’s 2026 primary?
The voter registration and party affiliation change deadline for the August 18, 2026 primary is July 20, 2026 — 29 days before the primary. Florida is a closed primary state: only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. If you are registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA) and want to vote in the Republican primary, you must change your registration to Republican by July 20.
Can independents (NPA) vote in Florida’s primary?
No. Florida is a closed primary state — only registered members of a political party can vote in that party’s primary. Voters registered as No Party Affiliation (NPA) or Independent cannot vote in the Republican or Democratic primaries. NPA voters can vote in the November general election. To vote in the August 18 Republican primary, change your registration to Republican at registertovoteflorida.gov by July 20, 2026.
How do I request a mail ballot for Florida’s 2026 primary?
Contact the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections to request a mail ballot at votehillsborough.gov. Request your ballot at least one to two weeks before the election to allow delivery time. Completed ballots must be received (not just postmarked) by 7 PM on August 18. You may also return your completed mail ballot in person at any early voting site or the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office at 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa.
What ID do I need to vote in person in Florida?
Florida requires a valid photo ID with signature to vote in person. Acceptable forms include a Florida driver’s license or ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, student ID from a Florida public university or college, and other government-issued photo IDs. Voters without acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot and present identification within two days to have it counted.
Stand for FL-14 in 2026
The 2026 primary is the moment Hillsborough County voters set the November ballot. Show up. Bring a neighbor. After nine terms — eighteen years — FL-14 deserves a real contest, and the contest starts on August 18.
Donate to John Peters’ campaign or contact the campaign. See the issues that matter most to FL-14.