Florida

When is early voting in Florida for the 2024 primary election? What to know, by county

Published

1 year ago

August 7, 2024

When is early voting in Florida for the 2024 primary election? What to know, by county

A year’s worth of election news has happened in the last few weeks, but the election is in fact getting closer. Mail-in ballots for the Aug. 20 primary election have started going out and early voting locations are already open in some locations, although Tropical Storm/Hurricane Debby shut a few down for a day.

Here’s what you need to know.

When is the Florida Primary Election for 2024?

The primary election in Florida is on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.

What is early voting?

There are often long lines at the polls every Election Day, especially in areas without enough polling locations, with voters sometimes waiting for hours to cast their ballots, and some people can’t get to the polls on a Tuesday.

To help alleviate that, early voting was established to let people to vote early at a more convenient time, with the same equipment used on Election Day.

When does early voting in Florida start and end?

Any election that includes a state or federal race is required to offer early voting, which must run from at least the 10th day before the election to the 3rd day before the election. Each county Supervisor of Elections may choose to offer more early voting days, starting up to five days earlier or lasting one day longer.

Here are the early voting dates by county in Florida. Click the county names for more information and locations.

Alachua: Aug. 5-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Baker: Aug. 8-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Bay: Aug. 5-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bradford: Aug. 5-18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Brevard: Aug. 10-17, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Broward: Aug. 10-18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Calhoun: Aug. 8-17 at the Supervisor of Elections Office, Aug. 10-17 at Shelton Park Library
Charlotte: Aug. 5-18, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m
Citrus: Aug. 9-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Clay: Aug. 8-17, from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Collier: Aug. 10-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Columbia: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
DeSoto: Aug. 5-17, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dixie: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Duval: Aug. 7-18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Escambia: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Flagler: Aug. 10-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Franklin: Aug. 8-17, from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Gadsden: Aug. 7-18, no times provided
Gilchrist: Aug. 10-17, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Glades: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gulf: Aug. 10-17, no times listed yet
Hamilton: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Hardee: Aug. 8-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hendry: Aug. 5-17, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hernando: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlands: Aug. 8-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hillsborough: Aug. 5-18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Holmes: Aug. 10-17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Indian River: Aug. 10-17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jackson: Aug. 6-17, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson: Aug. 6-17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lafayette: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lake: Aug. 8-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lee: Aug. 10-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Leon: Aug. 10-18, most locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Leon County Courthouse open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Levy: Aug. 6-17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Liberty: Aug. 6-17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Madison: Aug. 10-17, no times listed yet
Manatee: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Marion: Aug. 10-17, from no times listed yet
Martin: Aug. 10-17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Miami-Dade: Aug. 5-18, various times
Monroe: Aug. 5-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nassau: Aug. 7-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Okaloosa: Aug. 10-17, no times listed yet
Okeechobee: Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Orange: Aug. 5-18, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Osceola: Aug. 5-18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Palm Beach: Aug. 10-18, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pasco: Aug. 10-17, no times listed yet
Pinellas: Aug. 10-18, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Polk: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Putnam: Aug. 5-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Santa Rosa: Aug. 5-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sarasota: Aug. 10-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Seminole: Aug. 10-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Johns: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Lucie: Aug. 10-17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sumter: Aug. 10-17, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Suwannee: Aug. 10-17, no times listed yet
Taylor: Aug. 5-18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Union: Aug. 10-17, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Volusia: Aug. 10-17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wakulla: Aug. 10-17, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Walton: Aug. 10-17, various times
Washington: Aug. 5-17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do I need an ID for early voting in Florida?

To cast a ballot at an early voting site, you must have a photo ID. Acceptable IDs include:

Florida Driver License
Florida ID Card (issued by DHSMV)
U.S. Passport
Debit or Credit Card
Military ID
Student ID
Retirement Center ID
Neighborhood Association ID
Public Assistance ID
Veteran Health ID (issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs)
Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
Employee ID 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.

Can I still vote in Florida if I forgot or don’t have an ID?

If you don’t have an ID with you when you vote you’ll still be allowed to, but you will be required to vote a provisional ballot which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board to make sure it’s eligible.

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Florida

Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

Published

23 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A cruise ship that departed Florida has been hit by a norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 people fell ill on the Holland America Line cruise ship Rotterdam during its voyage between Dec. 28, 2025, and Jan. 9, 2026.

Those affected by the norovirus outbreak showed the typical symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

The virus, which is highly contagious, is the number 1 cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms appear between 12 and 48 hours after exposure and can include other symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, and fevers.

According to the CDC, 85 passengers out of 2,593 reported being sick. Nine of the 1,005 crew members reported being ill as well.

The CDC said Holland America Line and the Rotterdam crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures and quarantined those who fell ill to prevent the disease from spreading further.

CruiseMapper.com showed that the ship departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28. The cruise line’s website also has several future voyages out of Fort Lauderdale as well.

8 On Your Side has reached out to Holland America for more information on the outbreak.

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Florida

See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

After a push to nearly the end of the launch window, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off on Florida’s third launch of 2026.

The rocket lifted off at 4:08 p.m. Monday, January 12 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It had originally been scheduled for earlier in the afternoon, but the launch time was repeatedly pushed back. SpaceX did not give a reason for the change in timing.

The Falcon 9 carried 29 Starlink internet satellites to orbit on the booster’s 25th mission. No sonic booms were heard in Brevard County, as the booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Next SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

The next Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida is scheduled for no earlier than 1:01 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The mission is the next batch of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites, titled Starlink 6-98.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

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Florida

Florida lawmakers push religious expression bills for 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Florida lawmakers push religious expression bills for 2026

The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.

Florida lawmakers have filed several bills for the 2026 legislative session to strengthen religious expression rights.
One proposed bill would protect employees from being disciplined over religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”
Another measure seeks to amend the state constitution to protect students and staff who express religious beliefs in public schools.

The First Amendment’s freedom of religious expression is appearing among a variety of bills in Florida’s upcoming legislative session, set to begin Jan. 13.

Specifically, lawmakers filed bills for the 2026 session that would create new Florida law or amend the state’s Constitution in efforts to strengthen the right of religious expression.

No doubt some advocates will disagree.

For instance, one bill called the “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” proposed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood, would ban employers from disciplining employees based on deeply held religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”

It was introduced last year and died in committee, and Equality Florida said at the time that the measure doubled down on “anti-transgender rhetoric.”

Some of these measures come in response to a conservative push to counter LGBTQ+ positions seen as in conflict with deeply-held religious beliefs. A notable decision for this cause came from the U.S. Supreme Court, after it said public school parents could exempt their children from discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.

Republicans enter the 60-day session having an advantage of a supermajority in Florida’s House and Senate, since votes along party lines could advance the conservative-led push uplifting religious beliefs.

Religious expression bills filed for 2026 Florida legislative session

Here’s a list of bills and resolutions, as of Jan. 9, filed so far that include religious expression measures:

HJR 583 (filed by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater): A resolution that would amend the state constitution to provide protection from discrimination for students and school personnel who express religious beliefs in public schools.
HB 641 (filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood): Would prohibit employers from disciplining employees or contractors due to “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
HB 835 (filed by Rep. David Borrero, R-Doral): Would prohibit schools from discriminating against students or school personnel based on political, religious or ideological viewpoint expression.
HB 1227 (filed by Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda): Would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, regulations, resolutions or rules that could substantially burden free exercise of religion.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

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