If you live in Florida, you're probably used to the humidity and the occasional hurricane. But what about a sudden, mid-cycle trip to the ballot box? Honestly, keeping track of when to vote in this state can feel like a full-time job. Between the regularly scheduled cycles and the surprise vacancies, your calendar is likely a mess.
Right now, the big question on everyone's mind is when is the special election in Florida, especially with several high-profile seats recently vacated. Whether it's the ripple effect of federal appointments or local shifts in the state legislature, we have a few critical dates coming up in 2026 that you can’t afford to miss.
The Big One: Florida’s U.S. Senate Special Election
The most massive shift on the horizon is the seat formerly held by Marco Rubio. Since Rubio moved on to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State in early 2025, the vacancy triggered a special election to determine who will serve the remainder of his six-year term.
Here is the deal. You won't just be voting once for this. Because of how Florida law handles these things, the special election is being synced up with the regular 2026 cycle.
- The Primary: Mark your calendars for August 18, 2026. This is where the parties will whittle down their crowded fields.
- The General Election: The final showdown happens on November 3, 2026.
Basically, whoever wins in November will jump straight into the seat to finish the term that ends in 2028. It’s a huge deal for the balance of power in D.C., and you've already seen names like Ashley Moody and Alan Grayson floating around the rumor mill or filing paperwork.
State House and Senate Vacancies (March 2026)
While the Senate race is the "headliner," many of you in Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Polk counties have more immediate concerns. Governor Ron DeSantis called for special elections to fill seats left behind by representatives and senators who moved into other roles—like Mike Caruso and Jay Collins.
The schedule for these local races is much tighter. In fact, for many of these districts, the special primary has just wrapped up on January 13, 2026.
The date you really need to know is March 24, 2026.
This is the Special General Election for:
- State Senate District 14 (Hillsborough)
- State House District 87 (Palm Beach)
- State House District 51 (Polk)
If you're in House District 87, for example, it’s already been narrowed down. Republican Jon Maples and Democrat Emily Gregory are the two names you'll see on that March ballot.
Why These Dates Keep Shifting
Florida's election calendar is kinda notorious for being a moving target. The Governor has a lot of leeway in "fixing" the dates for special elections. Recently, there was actually a bit of a row in the Florida Phoenix and other outlets because the delay in setting these dates meant some districts would have no representation during the start of the 2026 legislative session.
Basically, the session starts in January, but the winners won't be seated until after the March 24th election. That’s a long time for a district to go without a voice in Tallahassee. There's even talk of new legislation (SB 1008 and similar proposals) that would force the Governor to set these dates within a strict 14-day window to prevent these gaps.
Getting Your Paperwork in Order
If you’re planning to vote in the March 24 special election, you can’t just show up. Florida is strict about deadlines.
The voter registration deadline for the March 24 election is February 23, 2026. If you aren't registered by then, you're sitting this one out.
💡 You might also like: Did Trump Say Nazis Treated Jews with Love? What Really Happened
If you prefer to vote from your couch (and who doesn't?), the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is March 12, 2026. Just make sure the local Supervisor of Elections has it in their hands by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. They don’t care about postmarks; they care about possession.
For the primary in August and the general in November, the registration deadlines are July 20, 2026, and October 5, 2026, respectively.
Actionable Steps for Florida Voters
Don't let the "special" nature of these elections catch you off guard. These races often have much lower turnout than the big presidential years, which means your individual vote actually carries more weight.
- Check your district: Go to the Florida Division of Elections website and use the "Find Your Precinct" tool. You might be in District 51 or 87 and not even realize it.
- Verify your status: Even if you voted in 2024, check your registration. Florida has been cleaning up voter rolls, and you don't want to find out you're "inactive" on election morning.
- Request your mail-in ballot now: You don't have to wait until the deadline. In fact, doing it early helps the county manage the load.
- Note the early voting window: For the March election, mandatory early voting runs from March 14 to March 21, 2026. Some counties might offer extra days, so check your local Supervisor of Elections site.
Knowing when is the special election in Florida is the first step, but actually showing up is what changes things. Whether it's picking a new U.S. Senator in November or a State Rep in March, these dates are the only chances you get to have a say in who's running the show.
Keep an eye on the mail for those sample ballots—they usually start arriving about three weeks before the actual election day.