The person behind the name
Ryan Elijah’s public profile was built on Florida television before he entered politics in 2026.
Elijah is a former FOX 35 news anchor in Orlando who won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Representative Cory Mills. The Florida Division of Elections lists him as the qualified Republican candidate for the seat in the November 3 general election. [1][2][5][12]
From the sideline to the anchor desk
The Floridian reported in June 2026 that Elijah served as co-anchor of Good Day Orlando and Orlando Matters “from 2012 up until Apr. 2026, before resigning to focus on his campaign run.” His campaign biography calls Orlando Matters a weekly show that he hosted. WDBO, an Orlando radio station, described him in July as a “TV broadcaster turned local politician” and said he decided to run in April. [9][13][14]
The campaign biography says Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney appointed him to the Mayor’s Council. “During that time,” it continues, he “hosted television programming for the Jacksonville Jaguars and worked as a sideline reporter for the Jaguars Radio Network and Fox Sports.” WDBO likewise referred to “his time as a sideline reporter with the Jacksonville Jaguars.” Neither source dates that work. [9][13]
Education and professional preparation
The campaign biography does not name a college or a degree, and no source retrieved for this review documents Elijah’s education. The biography describes him as “an Emmy-winning news anchor” and says he “created a consumer advocacy segment that returned thousands of dollars to residents in need,” a segment it says took up Social Security disability benefits and consumer protection matters. The Floridian also called him an Emmy-winning anchor. This review did not retrieve the awarding academy’s own record. [9][14]
Home and district
The campaign says Elijah has lived in Florida for 20 years, 14 of them in the 7th District, and that he and his wife, Tasha, raised their two sons in Seminole County. Florida Phoenix describes the district as one that “encompasses Seminole and Volusia counties,” and those are the two counties in the state’s official returns for the seat. [2][8][15]
A note on his years at FOX. WDBO referred to Elijah’s “12-years with the Fox organization,” a span it tied to both FOX 35 and his Jaguars sideline work. The Floridian dated his co-anchor role from 2012 to April 2026, and the campaign says he has been visible in the community for “the past 14 years.” The counts differ. This profile uses the dated span and attributes it. [8][13][14]
Life & public service
The dated milestones are recent: most of the documented record falls between April and September 2026.
Jacksonville broadcasting and a mayoral appointment
The campaign biography says Mayor John Delaney appointed Elijah to Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Council and that he hosted Jaguars television programming and reported from the sideline for the Jaguars Radio Network and Fox Sports. It gives no dates. [9]
Files for the District 7 seat
The Division of Elections’ candidate record shows a filing date of May 12, 2026, as a Republican for United States Representative, District 7. [4]
Qualifies for the ballot
The same record lists him as qualified on June 8, 2026, by payment of the qualifying fee. [4]
Calls on Mills to leave the race
After The Floridian reported, citing unnamed sources, that the Justice Department was investigating Mills, Elijah said: “It is time for Cory Mills to leave the race.” Mills told the outlet, “This is the first I’m hearing about it.” [25]
Straw polls and a public exchange
The Floridian reported a social-media exchange between Elijah and Mills over a Casselberry straw poll in which, by the outlet’s account, Elijah finished first with 72 and Mills fourth with 20. A straw poll is not a scientific survey. [21]
Wins the Republican primary
Official results: Elijah 31,558 votes (47.3 percent), Mills 22,753 (34.1 percent), Ulrich 7,010 (10.5 percent), Johnson 5,411 (8.1 percent). [2]
Trump’s endorsement
FOX 35 reported that President Donald Trump gave Elijah his “complete and total endorsement” after the primary. [12]
On Trump’s general-election list
The Floridian reported that Trump’s Florida general-election endorsements included “Ryan Elijah (FL CD 7).” Elijah wrote on X that he was “honored to have it.” [22]
Accomplishments, in the record
No source reviewed shows Elijah holding public office, so there are no votes or bills to examine. Election returns, candidate filings and an official House statement establish the following. Outcomes are described at the level supported by those records.
Filed in May, qualified in June
The Florida Division of Elections’ candidate record shows Ryan Elijah as a Republican candidate for United States Representative, District 7, in the 2026 General Election. It gives a filing date of May 12, 2026 and a qualifying date of June 8, 2026, by payment of the qualifying fee. A qualifying record establishes ballot access and nothing more. [4]
A plurality over a sitting congressman
The Department of State’s official results for the August 18, 2026 Republican primary show Elijah with 31,558 votes, or 47.3 percent. Incumbent Cory Lee Mills received 22,753 (34.1 percent), Sarah Ulrich 7,010 (10.5 percent) and Michael Don Johnson 5,411 (8.1 percent). [2]
The Division’s general-election list marks Mills, Ulrich and Johnson as “Defeated.” Elijah’s share was a plurality: the three other candidates together received 52.7 percent. [1][2]
Wide in Seminole, narrow in Volusia
The official county rows show where the margin came from. In Seminole County, Elijah received 18,616 votes to Mills’s 10,713. In Volusia County the two were 902 votes apart: 12,942 for Elijah and 12,040 for Mills. [2]
Three qualified candidates in November
The Division of Elections lists three qualified candidates for District 7: Elijah (REP), Bale Dalton (DEM) and Christopher Dennison (LPF). The Department of State’s party list identifies LPF as the Libertarian Party of Florida. [1][6]
Dalton won the Democratic primary with 21,776 votes (45.5 percent), ahead of Marialana Kinter with 17,022 (35.6 percent) and Alan Grayson with 9,071 (18.9 percent), according to the official results. [3]
The inquiry that framed the primary
The race Elijah entered was shaped by an official proceeding that did not involve him. The House Committee on Ethics said on May 11, 2026 that it had established an Investigative Subcommittee on November 19, 2025 “to review various allegations relating to Representative Cory Mills,” and that the panel had “authorized more than 20 subpoenas, collected thousands of documents, and contacted dozens of witnesses.” [7]
The statement announced no findings; it said the Committee “will publicly release its findings” under its rules. Mills said in November 2025 that the accusations “will be proven to be absolutely false in many ways,” Florida Phoenix reported, and the outlet wrote on primary night that he had denied them. [7][15][17]
Dates set by the state
The Department of State’s calendar sets the general election for November 3, 2026. It lists an October 5 deadline to register to vote, an October 22 deadline to request a mailed ballot, and a mandatory early-voting period of October 24 to 31. [5]
Faith, family & community
The campaign says Elijah and his wife, Tasha, raised their two sons in Seminole County, and that the boys attended both public and private schools. [8][10]
His campaign biography says he is active in his church and has served on boards including the YMCA, a homeowners association and a Christian school board, “where he helped oversee budgets and operations.” It also mentions coaching high school basketball and Little League baseball. [9]
The issues page says he “comes from a military family, with both his father and grandfather having served.” It does not claim military service by Elijah himself, and this profile makes no such claim. [10]
These are the campaign’s own descriptions. The sources do not name his church or a denomination, and this profile does not characterize his religious affiliation beyond what the campaign states. [9][10]
His mission for Florida
Trusted leadership, and a commitment to fighting for conservative Florida values.
The following summarizes the agenda on Ryan Elijah’s official campaign website. These are proposed priorities, not completed accomplishments. [8][10]
01Affordability & economy
Keep taxes low, pursue American energy independence and reduce federal regulation. The page calls for an end to “out of control government spending,” which it ties to everyday costs and the national debt. [10]
02Healthcare
Tax benefits such as expanded Health Savings Accounts, and requirements for clear pricing from hospitals, insurers and other providers. [10]
03Education
Parental rights, school choice, curriculum transparency and local control. The page says federal money makes up nearly 14 percent of “Seminole County’s budget” and closer to 20 percent in Volusia County, citing “the most recent audit” without naming it. [10]
04Faith, family and life
The campaign describes him as pro-life and says he will back policies that “support parents, protect children, and keep families united and strong.” [10]
05Military & veterans
A military that remains “the strongest and best-equipped fighting force in the world,” and a guarantee that veterans “receive the best possible care after their service.” [10]
06Law enforcement & Second Amendment
Tougher penalties for assaulting or shooting officers. The campaign says he supports the Second Amendment and “has earned an ‘A’ rating with the NRA”; this review did not retrieve the NRA’s own listing. [10]
07Immigration & voting
Border security, enforcing “the rule of law,” and work with local law enforcement against illegal drugs. The page says he “strongly supports the Save America Act, which ensures only American citizens can vote in our elections.” [10]
08Health costs & competition
He told The Floridian: “I’m a big believer in small government, transparency, letting competition happen,” adding that lowering costs is “not a quick change.” [14]
How to assess a proposal. A campaign plan states an intention. Enactment, implementation costs, replacement revenue, and measured results are separate questions. These priorities should be read alongside the documented record above.
The fuller record
A useful profile includes policy tradeoffs, the limits of a claim, and responses to material criticism.
A plurality win over an incumbent under inquiry
Elijah won the primary with 47.3 percent in a four-candidate field; a majority of the votes, 52.7 percent, went to other candidates. Florida Phoenix reported that Mills “lost substantial support from Republicans amid a House Ethics Committee investigation,” and that Mills has denied the accusations. The returns establish that Elijah won. They do not establish how much of the result reflected his own appeal rather than the incumbent’s difficulties. [2][15]
Trump’s endorsement followed the primary
When he entered the race in April, Elijah told Fox News: “I’m not going against the president’s endorsement or even going against the party. I’m going for both of those.” In July, Mills said, “There’s a reason President Trump has endorsed me 3 times.” Florida Phoenix reported on primary night that Trump “declined to endorse him.” FOX 35, Elijah’s former employer, reported on August 19 that Trump endorsed Elijah and wrote, “I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the race, but he wouldn’t listen.” Elijah told the station that Trump “kind of rescinded his endorsement of my opponent and let this play out.” Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos backed Elijah before the primary, and his campaign lists Gov. Ron DeSantis among its endorsers. Endorsements establish political support; they are not evaluations of a record. [11][12][15][21][24]
An asserted federal investigation of his opponent
On July 22, 2026, The Floridian reported, citing unnamed sources, that the Justice Department was examining Mills’s “finances, allegations of misconduct, and individuals in his circle.” Elijah called on Mills to leave the race, and on August 7 told Florida’s Voice, “There is an active DOJ investigation against Cory Mills,” adding, “I would not put these things out without a tremendous source, which we have.” Mills denied that an investigation exists; The Floridian’s primary-night report said he called it a “desperate lie” and that an influencer, Tiffany Savage, accused Elijah of “anonymously tipping the allegation.” No Justice Department document or statement was retrieved for this review. The reports do not establish that an investigation exists, who Elijah’s source was, or whether the accusation against him is accurate, and no response from Elijah to that accusation was found. [18][25][27]
At the debate: Washington ties and 2020
At the August 5 debate, The Floridian reported, candidate Sarah Ulrich questioned “Elijah’s connections in Washington.” Elijah answered that “he had not made a promise to any individual” and that there was nothing wrong with having “strong relationships in our nation’s capital.” The report does not say which relationships Ulrich meant. Asked the same week about the Republican primary for governor, Elijah said, “I’m not going to endorse in any of the races”; the outlet called him “noncommittal.” The Floridian’s account of the debate says that “Mills, Elijah, and Johnson” explicitly argued “that former President Joe Biden did not receive more votes than President Trump.” The article summarizes the exchange and does not quote Elijah, so this profile cannot characterize his exact words. The same report says he and Ulrich “emphasized the willingness to work across the aisle” to pass the SAVE America Act. [18][19][20]
Campaign claims not independently verified
The campaign calls Elijah “Emmy-winning,” says his consumer segment “returned thousands of dollars to residents in need,” and says he holds “an ‘A’ rating with the NRA” and “multiple honors” for support of law enforcement. It also says a Jacksonville mayor appointed him to the Mayor’s Council. No primary record for these statements was retrieved for this review, and they are presented as the campaign’s own. [9][10]
A $134,000 loan to his own campaign
The Floridian reported on July 16, 2026 that Elijah’s campaign had raised nearly $302,000 in about two months and, “According to the FEC Form,” that he had lent it $134,000. The campaign said it had “raised more money by far than any Republican in the field.” The report does not say whether the loan is counted within the $302,000. The Federal Election Commission’s pages could not be retrieved for this review, so these are the outlet’s figures, not amounts read from the filing, and later reports are not described here. [26]
Questions & answers
Who is Ryan Elijah?
What office is Ryan Elijah running for in 2026?
Who is Ryan Elijah running against?
Did Ryan Elijah defeat Cory Mills?
When is the election?
The general election is November 3, 2026. Florida’s deadline to register is October 5, 2026, and the mandatory early-voting period runs October 24 to 31, according to the Department of State. [5]
What are Ryan Elijah’s main campaign priorities?
His campaign website lists affordability and the economy, healthcare, education, “Faith, Family and Life,” the military and veterans, law enforcement, and illegal immigration. These are stated priorities, not accomplishments. [10]
The sources behind the story
Primary government documents anchor the record. Original reporting supplies the career chronology, election coverage and scrutiny. Campaign materials are used for the candidate’s own biography, priorities and claims.
- 01Candidate Listing for 2026 General Election: United States RepresentativeFlorida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Official candidate list. District 7 shows Ryan Elijah (REP), Bale Dalton (DEM) and Christopher Dennison (LPF) as Qualified, and Cory Lee Mills (REP) and four others as Defeated. The page returns every district; the list can change after this review.Government / regulatory record - 02August 18, 2026 Primary Election, Official Results: United States Representative, District 7 (Republican primary)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Page labelled Official Results. Four columns in ballot order: Elijah 31,558 (47.3%), Johnson 5,411 (8.1%), Mills 22,753 (34.1%), Ulrich 7,010 (10.5%), with Seminole and Volusia county rows. It reports votes only, not reasons.Government / regulatory record - 03August 18, 2026 Primary Election, Official Results: United States Representative, District 7 (Democratic primary)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Page labelled Official Results: Bale Dalton 21,776 (45.5%), Alan Grayson 9,071 (18.9%), Marialana Kinter 17,022 (35.6%). Establishes the Democratic nominee.Government / regulatory record - 04Candidate detail: Ryan Elijah, United States Representative, District 7 (2026 General Election)Florida Department of State, Division of Elections · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
State candidate-tracking record: Republican, status Qualified, Date Filed 05/12/2026, Date Qualified 06/08/2026, Paid Qualifying Fee. It is a ballot-access record, not a campaign-finance record.Government / regulatory record - 05Election DatesFlorida Department of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Official calendar: primary August 18, 2026; general election November 3, 2026; registration deadline October 5; mail-ballot request deadline October 22; mandatory early voting October 24 to 31.Government / regulatory record - 06Political PartiesFlorida Department of State · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Lists Florida’s registered parties with their codes, including “Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF).” Used only to expand the party code on the candidate list.Government / regulatory record - 07Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Cory MillsU.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ethics · May 11, 2026
Committee statement on its investigative subcommittee reviewing allegations about the incumbent Elijah later defeated. It announces no findings and does not mention Elijah.Government / regulatory record - 08Ryan Elijah for Congress: official campaign homepageRyan Elijah for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Campaign’s own summary of his residency, family, slogan and issue headings, plus its social-media links and “Paid for by” line. Self-description, not independent verification.Campaign source - 09About RyanRyan Elijah for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Campaign biography: Emmy claim, consumer segment, Jaguars and Fox Sports work, board service and a Jacksonville mayoral appointment. It gives no dates, employers’ names, college or church.Campaign source - 10IssuesRyan Elijah for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Primary source for the candidate’s stated agenda under seven headings. The NRA rating, law-enforcement honors and school-funding percentages on the page are the campaign’s statements.Campaign source - 11EndorsementsRyan Elijah for Congress · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
Campaign’s list of endorsers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Reps. Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna. As retrieved, the page did not list Donald Trump.Campaign source - 12Trump endorses Ryan Elijah in race against Democrat Bale Dalton after Florida congressional primary winFOX 35 Orlando · Aug. 19, 2026
Staff report quoting Trump’s endorsement post and Elijah’s reaction. FOX 35 is Elijah’s former employer and identifies him as a former FOX 35 anchor.Independent reporting - 13Ryan Elijah joins “Orlando’s Morning News” to talk about life on the campaign trailWDBO News & Talk · July 17, 2026
Greg Rhodes’s item on a radio interview: FOX 35 and Jaguars sideline background, an April decision to run, and no debate to that point with the incumbent. It carries no direct quotations.Independent reporting - 14Ryan Elijah Affirms His Efforts To Tackle Affordability And Healthcare PrioritiesThe Floridian · June 29, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s interview piece: co-anchor dates (2012 to April 2026), residency and Elijah’s quoted views on affordability and health costs. The campaign’s news page gives this item a different date.Independent reporting - 15Wasserman Schultz, Moskowitz advance in their congressional primary racesFlorida Phoenix · Aug. 18, 2026
Mitch Perry’s primary-night report: Mills’s defeat, the ethics inquiry, Mills’s denial, and the November matchup. It calls Dalton a former NASA “administrator”; the outlet’s April report says chief of staff.Independent reporting - 16Democrat Bale Dalton calls on Central Florida GOP Rep. Cory Mills to resignFlorida Phoenix · Apr. 14, 2026
Mitch Perry’s report describes Dalton as a decorated Navy captain and former NASA chief of staff who entered the race in November 2025. Used for the neutral description of the opponent.Independent reporting - 17Florida US Rep. Cory Mills under investigation by House ethics panelFlorida Phoenix / States Newsroom · Nov. 20, 2025
Jennifer Shutt’s report on the opening of the House Ethics investigation, with Mills’s statement that the accusations would be proven false. It predates Elijah’s candidacy.Independent reporting - 18Ryan Elijah Defeats Cory Mills in District 7 Republican PrimaryThe Floridian · Aug. 18, 2026
Grayson Bakich’s election-night report; its 46.9% and 34.4% predate the official results used here. Also reports Mills’s “desperate lie” reply and an influencer’s accusation that Elijah was the anonymous source.Independent reporting - 19The ‘Boogie Woogie’ Showdown: The FL CD 7 Republican Primary DebateThe Floridian · Aug. 6, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s account of the New Smyrna Beach debate, moderated by the outlet’s publisher. It summarizes rather than quotes most of Elijah’s answers, including on the 2020 election.Independent reporting - 20Cory Mills Say’s He’ll Vote for Donalds, Ryan Elijah Noncommittal in Governor’s RaceThe Floridian · Aug. 6, 2026
Michael Costeines’s report quoting Elijah’s statement that he would not endorse in the governor’s primary, and describing him as noncommittal.Independent reporting - 21Cory Mills & Ryan Elijah Exchange Over FL CD 7 Poll NumbersThe Floridian · July 30, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s report on a social-media exchange over a Casselberry straw poll, with Mills’s statement that Trump had endorsed him three times. A straw poll is not a scientific survey.Independent reporting - 22Trump Announces Florida Republican General Election EndorsementsThe Floridian · Sep. 2, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s report listing “Ryan Elijah (FL CD 7)” among Trump’s general-election endorsements and quoting Elijah’s response on X. It does not reproduce Trump’s post about Elijah.Independent reporting - 23Bale Dalton campaign website: homepageDalton for Florida · Accessed Sep. 17, 2026
The Democratic opponent’s own site, used only to confirm how he describes his NASA and Navy background. Self-description.Campaign source - 24Rep Cory Mills draws first Republican challenger as sexual misconduct allegations, expulsion threat mountFox News · Apr. 28, 2026
Adam Pack and Aishah Hasnie’s report on Elijah’s entry into the primary, with his statements about Trump’s endorsement of the incumbent. Fox News shares a corporate parent with FOX 35, his former station.Independent reporting - 25Ryan Elijah Urges Mills To Drop Out Of Race Amid DOJ InvestigationThe Floridian · July 22, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s report. The investigation it describes is attributed to unnamed sources; the article cites no Justice Department document or statement. Carries Elijah’s call for Mills to leave the race and Mills’s reply.Independent reporting - 26Ryan Elijah Raises $302K For Congressional War Chest In 2 MonthsThe Floridian · July 16, 2026
Joseph Quesada’s report on the campaign’s second-quarter fundraising, citing the campaign’s FEC form. The figures are the outlet’s reading of the filing; this review did not retrieve the filing itself.Independent reporting - 27Ryan Elijah challenges Rep. Mills on DOJ investigation, debate demands in Florida’s 7th Congressional District GOP primaryFlorida’s Voice · Aug. 7, 2026
Michelle Vecerina’s report quoting Elijah’s assertion of an active Justice Department investigation of Mills and his statement about his source, with Mills’s denial. It does not identify the source.Independent reporting
No matching sources. Try “House”, “election” or “campaign.”
Scope & method. Reviewed September 17, 2026. This is a documented overview of publicly available biography, major actions, and stated priorities, not an exhaustive record. Numerical claims retain their original meaning and attribution. Historical sources do not imply current appointments. The source list provides direct links so readers can check the underlying material. Election lists, filings, and campaign pages may change after this review.
Images. Conservative Ledger masthead supplied by the site creator. No photograph is published here: the Ledger uses only public-domain U.S. Government works or images under an explicit free licence, and none had been cleared for this profile at the time of review.
Where to find the candidate
Every link below was read from the campaign’s own website or the candidate’s official government page. A follower count is printed only where it was measured; otherwise the link is published and the number is left blank rather than guessed at.
Voting in Florida: official dates, deadlines and rules
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The dates and rules below were read from the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections; the authority's own page, linked beside each one, is the final word.
Dates and deadlines
- Voter registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026 is the deadline to register to vote (book closing) for the November 3, 2026 general election. State law closes the registration books on the 29th day before each election. The cutoff depends on how you apply (online, by mail or in person); see the items that follow. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/election-dates
- Online registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) to submit an electronic application through RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). The FAQ adds that an application submitted after the deadline is still processed and takes effect for the next election. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Registration deadline by mail (postmark)A paper application sent by mail must be postmarked no later than October 5, 2026, the 29th day before the election, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). Mail the statewide application (Form DS-DE 39) to your county Supervisor of Elections. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Registration deadline in personA paper application delivered in person must be submitted by close of business in your county of residence on October 5, 2026, according to the Division of Elections' online voter registration FAQ (updated August 2022). In-person options listed by the Division: any County Supervisor of Elections' office, any tax collector's office or other office that issues Florida driver licenses or Florida identification cards (through an electronic intake process), and any designated voter registration agency (per the Division's 2026 Voter Registration and Voting Guide). Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/706383/ovr-faq-eng-v20220801-final.pdf
- Vote-by-mail ballots start being sentSeptember 24, 2026 through October 1, 2026 is the window in which county Supervisors of Elections send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters whose requests are already on file. Ballots for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters must be sent by September 19, 2026. For a later request, the Supervisor must mail the ballot within 2 business days, and no later than October 24, 2026. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/election-dates
- Early voting beginsOctober 24, 2026 is the first day of the 8-day mandatory early voting period, offered in every county. A county may add optional early voting days from October 19, 2026 through October 23, 2026; contact your county Supervisor of Elections for the days offered where you live. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
- Early voting endsOctober 31, 2026 is the last day of the mandatory early voting period. A county may also offer one more optional day, November 1, 2026; contact your county Supervisor of Elections. Early voting hours must be at least 8 hours and no more than 12 hours a day at each site. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
- Deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailedOctober 22, 2026, no later than 5 p.m.: the deadline for your county Supervisor of Elections to receive a request for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to you (the 12th day before the election). After that, a ballot can still be picked up in person; from the start of mandatory early voting on October 24, 2026 through Election Day, pickup also requires an affidavit affirming that an emergency keeps the voter from voting at an early voting site or at the assigned polling place. Read from: files.floridados.gov/media/711204/2026-calendar-20260713.pdf
Rules to know
- What to bringWhether you vote during early voting or on Election Day, you must bring a current and valid photo ID with signature. The Division of Elections lists these acceptable photo IDs: Florida driver license; Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or credit card; military identification; student identification; retirement center identification; neighborhood association identification; public assistance identification; veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06, Florida Statutes; and employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality. If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature. If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot; it counts if you are eligible, voted in the proper precinct, and the signature on the provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record. A voter who votes a provisional ballot may present further evidence of eligibility to the Supervisor of Elections until 5 p.m. (local time) on November 5, 2026, the second day after the election. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/election-day-voting
- Voting by mailIn Florida a voter has the option to vote by mail, at an early voting site, or at the assigned polling location on Election Day. Request a vote-by-mail ballot from the Supervisor of Elections in the county where you are registered: by signed writing on Form DS-DE 160, the Statewide Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Form (by mail, online, fax or as a scanned attachment to an email), in person, or by phone. Give your name, date of birth, address, and your Florida driver license number, Florida identification card number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, whichever the Supervisor can verify, plus your signature if the request is written; a signed written request is required if the ballot is to go to an address other than the one on file. A request to have the ballot mailed must reach the Supervisor no later than 5 p.m. on October 22, 2026. A request covers all elections through the end of the calendar year of the next regularly scheduled general election; after that it must be renewed. Return the voted ballot by mail or in person, or deposit it in a secure drop box (secure ballot intake station) at a Supervisor's main or branch office or at a designated early voting site. It must be received, regardless of postmark, by the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7:00 p.m. (local time) on November 3, 2026; the Division passes along the U.S. Postal Service's recommendation to mail it at least one week before that deadline. A voted vote-by-mail ballot cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day. To vote in person instead, bring the ballot (marked or unmarked) to the polls, turn it in and vote a regular ballot. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/vote-by-mail
- Early voting in personEligible and registered voters can vote before Election Day at any designated early voting site within their county of registration during early voting days and hours. For the November 3, 2026 general election, every county must offer early voting from October 24, 2026 through October 31, 2026; a Supervisor of Elections may add days as early as October 19, 2026 and as late as November 1, 2026. Each site must be open at least 8 hours and no more than 12 hours a day. The Division of Elections says its statewide list of early voting sites and secure ballot intake stations for the general election will be available after October 4, 2026; your county Supervisor of Elections' website has the specific dates, times and locations. Bring a current and valid photo ID with signature (see What to bring). Secure ballot intake stations for returning vote-by-mail ballots are placed at early voting sites and other authorized areas, are available only at the hours specified by law, and are continuously monitored by an employee of the Supervisor's office. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/early-voting-and-secure-ballot-intake-stations
- Track your vote-by-mail ballotBallot tracking in Florida runs through the county Supervisors of Elections. The Division of Elections' Vote-by-Mail Ballot Information and Status Lookup page links to each county's site, where you can request a vote-by-mail ballot and track the status of your request and your ballot. The statewide Voter Information Lookup is for checking your voter registration and party status: enter your first name, last name and birth date as they appear in your registration record. For your polling place, sample ballot and vote-by-mail ballot status, that tool directs you to your Supervisor of Elections' website. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/check-your-voter-status-and-polling-place/vote-by-mail-ballot-information-and-status-lookup
- Fixing a missing or mismatched signatureThe Supervisor of Elections must notify you if your signature is missing from the vote-by-mail ballot certificate or does not match the one on record. To correct it, complete the Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure Affidavit (Form DS-DE 139) and include a copy of identification; the form and the copy of the ID can be returned by mail, email, fax, or in person. For the November 3, 2026 general election the deadline is 5 p.m. (local time) on November 5, 2026, the 2nd day after the election. The same deadline applies to an affidavit curing a missing or mismatched signature on a provisional ballot. Read from: dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voting/vote-by-mail
Read from: Division of Elections - Florida Department of State · Election Dates - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State · Election Dates and Activities Calendar – 2026 Election Cycle · Florida Voter Registration and Voting Guide (2026 election cycle, updated 07/20/2026) · Guía sobre el registro de votantes y la votación — Ciclo electoral 2026 (actualizado el 20/7/2026) · Register to Vote or Update your Information - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State — Rules and dates as of Sep 17, 2026
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