Politics
Miami-Dade and Broward begin early voting Oct. 19 for Florida midterms
Early voting in Miami-Dade and Broward runs through Nov. 1, giving registered voters two weeks to cast ballots ahead of Election Day. Voters may use any early-voting site in their county, but should check local schedules and bring qualifying identification.
Early voting for Florida’s Nov. 3, 2026, midterm election began Monday, Oct. 19, in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Both counties plan to keep early-voting sites open through Sunday, Nov. 1, extending voting beyond the statewide minimum period.
Registered voters may cast a ballot at any designated early-voting location in the county where they are registered. That differs from Election Day, when voters must go to their assigned precinct. Site hours and locations vary, so voters should check the schedules from the Miami-Dade and Broward elections offices before heading out.
Florida requires every county to offer early voting from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31. Counties may add days before or after that period. Early-voting sites must be open at least eight hours and no more than 12 hours on scheduled days.
In person, voters must present a current, valid photo ID that includes a signature. Accepted forms under Florida’s 2026 statute include a Florida driver’s license or state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, qualifying Veterans Affairs health ID, Florida concealed-weapons license or qualifying government employee ID. If the photo ID has no signature, voters need a separate acceptable ID with one. Those without the required identification may cast a provisional ballot, which election officials will review.
The deadline to register for the November election was Oct. 5. Florida does not allow same-day registration, so applications submitted after that date will not qualify a voter for this election. People who registered by the deadline can check their status through the state’s voter lookup system or contact their county elections office.
Voters who requested a mail ballot may still vote in person. They should bring the ballot to the early-voting site if they have it; election workers can cancel it. Without the mail ballot, officials must confirm it has not already been received, and a provisional ballot may be necessary if they cannot verify its status.
The deadline to request a mail ballot is 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Completed domestic mail ballots must reach the county Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3; a postmark does not make a late-arriving ballot valid.
The November ballot includes races for governor, U.S. Senate, the U.S. House and state offices, along with local contests and ballot questions that vary by district. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, and voters in line at closing will be allowed to vote.