This Tuesday, Florida will hold its midterm elections with polling places open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in all counties. Residents in the southern part of the state—Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe—have until that time to cast their vote, and there are several key rules to keep in mind before heading out.
The first thing voters should keep in mind is that early voting concluded on Sunday, so this Tuesday, each voter must go exclusively to the polling center assigned to their residence. To verify which center that is, the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe have search tools available on their official websites.
In Miami-Dade, there is an additional detail that cannot be overlooked: 19 precincts have been moved to 12 temporary locations due to construction, scheduling conflicts, and other circumstances. Affected voters should check their updated polling place at votemiamidade.gov before heading out, as going to their usual location could result in a wasted trip.
What to do with a ballot by mail that hasn't been sent
Anyone who still has a mail-in ballot at home that hasn't been submitted has two options to ensure their vote counts.
The first option is to deliver it in person at the office of the election supervisor of your county before 7:00 p.m. The addresses are: Miami-Dade, 2700 NW 87th Ave., in Doral; Broward, 4650 NW 21st Ave., in Fort Lauderdale; Monroe, 5200 College Rd., in Key West.
The second option is to take it to the assigned polling place, but with an important warning: election workers cannot accept a mail-in ballot that has already been marked. What they can do is cancel it and allow the voter to cast their vote in person at that same location.
Mandatory identification
To vote in Florida, it is mandatory to present a valid photo ID with signature. Accepted documents include the Florida driver's license, U.S. passport, state identification card, military ID, student ID, or government employee ID, among others.
If the photo identification does not include a signature, it can be combined with another accepted document that does have one. Those arriving without valid identification can request a provisional ballot: a polling board will compare the signature with the one on record in the voter registry to verify its validity.
Notes, photos, and what the law states
It is permitted to bring a sample ballot or notes into the voting booth, either on paper or on your phone, to guide you when voting.
It is also permitted to take a photograph of your own ballot inside the booth, but Florida law prohibits publishing that image on social media or sending it via text message. Sharing a photograph of the ballot with others constitutes a first-degree misdemeanor according to state statute §104.20.
Once outside the center, it is indeed legal to take a photo with the "I voted" sticker and post it on any platform.
The contests at stake
Florida is electing a governor, a federal senator, and 28 congressional districts this year. In the gubernatorial race, the Republican Byron Donalds and the Democrat David Jolly are competing to succeed Ron DeSantis. In the Senate, the Republican Ashley Moody—appointed by DeSantis in January 2025 to fill the seat left by Marco Rubio when he became Secretary of State—faces off against the Democrat Angie Nixon.
In South Florida, attention is focused on districts 26, 27, and 28, where Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez are seeking reelection. The most competitive race is in district 27, where Salazar is up against Cuban-American journalist Eliott Rodríguez in a district with a 73.5% Hispanic population.
At the close of early voting, Miami-Dade recorded 541,605 votes cast, which represents 41.24% of the active electorate, while Broward exceeded 455,000 early votes. The results can be followed live through the live coverage of the 2026 elections.
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