Nearly two million Floridians have already cast their ballots in the upcoming state primary through mail-in and early voting methods, according to data released by the Florida Division of Elections. As of 11 a.m. on August 17, approximately 14.2% of registered voters had participated in the election process ahead of Tuesday’s general poll opening. The preliminary figures reveal a distinct partisan divide in how Floridians are choosing to vote before Election Day.
Partisan Split in Early Voting Trends
The data indicates that Republicans have cast more total early votes compared to Democrats, while Democratic voters have submitted significantly more vote-by-mail ballots. Of the 1,913,737 votes recorded so far, 870,850 were attributed to Republican registrants and 806,561 to Democrats. Additionally, more than 236,000 voters identified as No Party Affiliation or belonging to another party.
Specific breakdowns show that nearly 143,000 more Republicans voted at early voting locations compared to their Democratic counterparts. Conversely, Democrats sent in 78,745 more vote-by-mail ballots than Republican voters did. This divergence highlights different engagement strategies or logistical preferences between the two major parties as they approach the final days of the primary.
Early Voting Logistics and County Variations
Early voting officially began on August 10 across Florida, though many counties extended their hours beyond this mandatory start date. Eleven counties continued accepting ballots for an additional day past August 15. Vote-by-mail ballots may continue to be received by election officials until polls close on Tuesday evening.
The current breakdown of vote-by-mail returns shows Democrats with 501,069 votes compared to Republicans' 422,324. For those who voted early in person, the numbers were reversed, with 448,526 Republican voters and 305,492 Democratic voters recorded, as reported by USA Today.
Election Day Schedule
Florida is a closed primary state, meaning registered voters can only select candidates from their own party. The general election day for the Florida Primary is Tuesday, August 18. Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. statewide.
The broader General Election in Florida is set for November 3, 2026, with similar polling hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting numbers serve as an indicator of current engagement but do not necessarily predict final Election Day turnout or results.
