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Did Hurricane Milton impact when and where?


Early voting begins as early as October 21, 2024 and runs through Sunday, November 3 in some Florida counties. Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.

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  • Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm.

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election has already begun in 13 states this week, and the battleground state of Georgia saw record turnout on the first day. Florida voters have already started sending in their absentee ballots, but when can they vote in person?

By law, early voting must be offered at least 10 days before the election, but some counties offer more days. You can cast your vote as early as Monday, October 21st in 49 Florida counties.

According to the University of Florida's Election Lab, early voting, either in-person or by mail, is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., with nearly one in seven voters casting their ballot before Election Day in 2020.

The important dates for the election are:

  • Deadline for requesting absentee ballots: 5 p.m. Thursday, October 24th
  • Mandatory dates for early voting: Saturday, October 26th to Saturday, November 2nd
    • Each county election official may choose to offer more days of early voting, which may begin up to five days earlier or last one day longer.
  • Election day: Tuesday, November 5th

Please see the dates and times for your county below. Please note that some early voting locations and schedules may have changed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order giving counties affected by Hurricane Helene some flexibility on absentee voting and early polling locations, and the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association has requested similar flexibility for seven additional counties affected by Hurricane Milton.

Here's what you need to know:

When is the 2024 Florida general election?

The Florida general election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

Ready to vote? Here's how and where to register in Florida

What is early voting?

For many voters, getting to a polling place on Election Day is difficult or impossible, and some people simply don't want to deal with long lines. In areas where there are not enough polling places, voters can sometimes wait hours to cast their ballots.

To mitigate this, early voting was introduced to allow people to vote earlier and at a more convenient time, using the same equipment as on Election Day.

This is different from voting by mail, where you request your ballot, fill it out, and send it in the mail. With early voting, you can still vote on your own schedule. Postal voting was previously referred to as “absentee voting.”

Voting from abroad: Florida ballots sent to military members overseas. Find out how to request your copy here

When does early voting begin and end in Florida for the 2024 election?

Any election that includes a state or federal race must offer early voting, which must occur at least from the 10th day before the election to the 3rd day before the election. Each county election official may choose to offer more days of early voting, which may begin up to five days earlier or last one day longer.

Here are the early voting dates by county in Florida. Click on the county names for more information and locations. Check your county website for current informationSome early voting locations and times may change due to damage from Hurricane Milton.

  • Alachua: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Baker: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
  • Bay: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Bradford: Oct 21 – Nov 3, 9am to 6pm
  • Brevard: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Broward: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Calhoun: Oct. 21-Nov. 2 at the elections office manager (Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.), Oct. 26-Nov. 2 at the Shelton Park Library (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • Charlotte: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Due to Hurricane Milton, early voting at the historic courthouse has been moved to the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center)
  • Citrus: Oct. 21–Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
  • Sand: Oct. 22 – Nov. 2, 7 p.m. to 7 p.m
  • Collier: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Columbia: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Main Office), 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Fort White Branch)
  • DeSoto: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m
  • Dixie: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Duval: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m
  • Escambia: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Flagler: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Franklin: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m
  • Gadsden: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Gilchrist: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Glades: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
  • Golf: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CDT).
  • Hamilton: Oct 26 – Nov 2, 9am to 5.30pm
  • Hardee: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Hendry: Oct 21 – Nov 2, 7am to 7pm
  • Hernando: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Highlands: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
  • Hillsborough: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Holmes: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Indian River: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Jackson: Oct. 22 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
  • Jefferson: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Lafayette: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
  • Lake: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Lee: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Leon: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, most locations 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Leon County Courthouse open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Drop-off: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Freedom: Oct. 21 – Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Madison: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-3 p.m
  • Manatee: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
  • Marion: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Martin: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Miami-Dade: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Monroe: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m
  • Nassau: Oct. 23 – Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Okaloosa: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Okeechobee: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Orange: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m
  • Osceola: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m
  • Palm Beach: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Pasco: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Pinellas: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Polk: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Putnam: Oct 21 – Nov 2 (no times posted yet)
  • Santa Rosa: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Sarasota: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Note that early voting polling locations in Milton are still being evaluated. An updated list can be found on the Supervisor of Elections website, when early voting begins.)
  • Seminole: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • St. Johns: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • St. Lucie: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m
  • Summer: Oct. 22 – Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Suwannee: Oct 26 – Nov 2, (no times posted yet)
  • Taylor: Oct. 21 – Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
  • Union: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Volusia: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Wakulla: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • Walton: Oct. 26 – Nov. 2, Saturday, Oct. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28 to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
  • Washington: Oct. 21 – Nov. 2 Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

Do I need an ID to vote early in Florida?

To cast a vote at an early voting site, you will need a photo ID. Acceptable IDs include:

  • Florida driver's license
  • Florida ID card (issued by DHSMV)
  • US passport
  • Debit or credit card
  • Military ID
  • Student ID card
  • ID of the retirement home
  • Neighborhood association ID
  • Public assistance card
  • Veteran Health ID (issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
  • Concealed Weapons License (issued in accordance with FS 790.06)
  • Employee identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or corporation of the federal government, state, county, or municipality.

If your photo ID does not contain a signature, you will be asked to provide another ID with your signature.

Can I still vote in Florida if I forget my ID or don't have one?

If you don't have ID with you when you cast your vote, you can still vote, but you will need to cast a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by an election committee to ensure it is eligible.

How do I register to vote in Florida?

ON-LINE: Go to RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov to submit your voter registration application. You need:

  • Your most current and valid Florida driver's license (Florida DL) or Florida identification card (Florida ID).
  • The last four digits of your social security number

If you don't have the necessary information, you can still use the online system to pre-fill an online voter registration form that you can print out. Sign it and either mail it to your district returning officer's office or drop it off there.

PERSONAL: You can also register to vote at the following address:

  • Any election office manager (by mail or in person)
  • Any office that issues Florida DLs or Florida ID cards
  • The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's online system for renewing a Florida DL or Florida ID
  • Any voter registration office, such as a public assistance office
  • Any voter registration campaign by an organization that has met Florida's updated standards
  • Any public library

By Vanessa

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