The PRIMARY ELECTION is held on the Tuesday, eleven (11) weeks before the General Election, to select party nominees. Florida is a closed primary state. In a primary election, voters may only vote for candidates in their party of registration (Section 101.021 Florida Statutes). By not selecting a party when you register to vote, your vote is limited in the primaries to only judges and issues. A Universal Primary Contest or "UPC" means a contest in a primary election in which all candidates have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election. All qualified electors may vote on a UPC regardless of party affiliation.
NON-PARTISAN JUDICIAL and SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS are held on the same day as the Primary Election. Candidates for these offices do not run as representatives of any political party. If there are three (3) or more candidates and none of the three receive a majority vote (50% + 1), the two (2) top vote getters go to the General Election.
The GENERAL ELECTION is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in even numbered years, to fill national, state and county offices, and for voting on constitutional amendments and local referendums. In a general election you may vote for the candidates of any party, regardless of your political party affiliation.
The PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY is held every four (4) years on a date established by the PPP Date Selection Committee to fall between the beginning of January and the beginning of March and must be determined no later than October 1st of the year preceding the the Presidential Election.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS are held in separate cities and towns within the county. If you reside within a municipality, you should check with your municipal clerk for the date of your municipal election. NOTE: You must live inside the boundaries of a municipality to be eligible to vote in that municipality's election.