Early voting opens Monday, Oct. 19, for voters in Land O' Lakes, Lutz and Odessa, with the mail-ballot request deadline falling Thursday, Oct. 22.

Both Pasco and Hillsborough counties start early voting the same day. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Pasco's window runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections. Hillsborough's extends one day longer, through Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.

During early voting, registered voters can use any designated site in their county. On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned precinct.

Mail ballot deadline: 5 p.m. Oct. 22

The statewide deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 22. Requests must be received by the supervisor of elections by that time, not just postmarked, according to WTSP.

Pasco voters can request a ballot online at PascoVotes.gov, by phone at 800-851-8754 or in writing. Hillsborough voters can visit VoteHillsborough.gov.

Under Florida law, mail-ballot requests expire after each election cycle. A request made for the 2024 election expired Dec. 31, 2024, so voters must file a new one.

Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley announced that more than 47,000 mail ballots went out Sept. 24. Hillsborough County mailed more than 146,000 ballots to domestic voters starting Oct. 1, CBS News reported.

Completed ballots must reach the supervisor of elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

In Pasco, voted mail ballots cannot be turned in at regular polling places on Election Day. They must go to one of three supervisor of elections offices or to an early voting site during the early voting window. The Land O' Lakes office is at 4111 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Suite 105.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said in a Sept. 22 CBS News report, "I encourage voters who are voting by mail to track their ballot and sign up for notifications, so they know when we mail their ballot out and when we receive it back in our office."

What to bring

Voters casting ballots in person need a current, valid photo ID with a signature. Accepted forms include a Florida driver's license or state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, student ID and debit or credit card. Voters without acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot.

Site changes and transportation

Hillsborough plans to open 27 early voting sites, though the SouthShore Regional Library is unavailable due to construction. Latimer's office said Oct. 12 that two other sites sit within five miles of that library. Full site lists are at VoteHillsborough.gov.

In Pasco, the Hudson Library and Regency Park Library will not serve as early voting locations in 2026. Confirmed site addresses are at PascoVotes.gov.

GoPasco, Pasco County's public bus system, is offering free rides to the polls on Election Day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Riders need a valid Voter Information Card. Free rides are available on Election Day only, not during early voting.

No rule changes for this election

Common Cause Florida Executive Director Amy Keith said in a Sept. 22 CBS News report that Florida's voting rules for the general election are the same as in 2024. Changes from HB 991, signed in April, involving citizenship verification and voter ID take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and do not apply to this election.

Hillsborough County has 819,204 active registered voters as of late September, according to Fox 13. Election Day polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line by closing will be allowed to vote.