JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Voters around northeast Florida have a few more days to cast an early, in-person ballot ahead of the state’s primary election on Tuesday, for congressional, state and local races.
Counties are required to offer early voting Aug. 10-17 but can offer additional days before and after that window (see the schedule by county below). Some counties will offer an additional day of early voting on Sunday, Aug. 18.
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Voters can also vote by mail, though the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed.
Florida is a closed primary state, meaning that in most cases, you must already be registered with a specific party to vote in one of that party’s primary contests.
However, the primary also includes numerous races that will be open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation. That includes school board and judicial contests, as well as races for certain local offices.
In addition, in races where all of the candidates are of one party, with no unaffiliated or write-in candidates, the party primary will be open to all voters, since the primary will decide the office-holder.
To find your sample ballot so you can see what races you’re eligible to vote in, go to your county’s supervisor of elections page (linked below).
You can also learn more about the candidates and races on your ballot in our News4JAX Voter’s Guide.
Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland cleared up some concerns voters have about stray marks on a ballot.
“The reality is this. If for any reason there was any kind of stray mark that would prevent your ballot from being counted, your ballot would be rejected, and you would get an opportunity to correct it,” Holland explained. “There is nothing that is going to prevent the votes of the races that you voted on from being counted, especially without you knowing.”
Eligible voters can vote at any early voting location within their county. You must bring one or two forms of valid and current identification that include your signature and photo.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Florida Driver License
- Florida ID Card (issued by DHSMV)
- U.S. Passport
- Debit or Credit Card
- Military ID
- Student ID
- Retirement Center ID
- Neighborhood Association ID
- Public Assistance ID
- Veteran Health ID (issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
- Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.
If you show up without an ID, you can cast a “provisional” ballot, which is then evaluated by a canvassing board that decides if the ballot is eligible.
Each county’s planned early voting dates are listed below. For locations and hours, click the link for each county, or use the map below.
- Alachua County: August 6-17 (originally August 5-17)
- Baker County: August 8-17
- Bradford County: August 6-18 (originally August 5-18)
- Clay County: August 8-17
- Columbia County: August 10-17
- Duval County: August 7-18 (originally August 5-18)
- Flagler County: August 10-17
- Nassau County: August 7-17
- Putnam County: August 5-17
- St. Johns County: August 10-17
- Union County: August 10-17
