Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd issues election readiness update ahead of August 18 primary
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd has issued an election readiness update ahead of the state’s Primary Election on Tuesday, August 18, reminding voters about polling hours, identification requirements, election results and how to report possible election violations.
The primary election will take place across Florida on August 18, with polls open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. local time. Byrd urged eligible voters to take part and reminded residents that anyone who is still waiting in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.
“Florida’s Primary Election is Tuesday, August 18 and polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. I encourage all Florida voters to exercise their right to vote,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “Preliminary unofficial election results for Florida’s Primary Election will be available on the Florida Election Watch website at https://floridaelectionwatch.gov.”
For voters planning to cast their ballots in person on Election Day, one detail is especially important. Voters must go to their assigned polling location rather than choosing any polling place in their county.
The assigned location can be found on a voter information card. Voters can also contact their county Supervisor of Elections or use the Division of Elections’ Check Your Voter Status webpage to confirm where they need to go.
State officials are also reminding voters that Florida requires identification when voting in person. Under state law, voters must present a current and valid photo identification at the polls during early voting or on Election Day.
The state provides a list of acceptable identification documents through the Florida Department of State’s elections website. Voters who are uncertain about which forms of identification are accepted are encouraged to review the requirements before heading to the polls.
Election officials are also preparing to publish results as voting concludes. Preliminary unofficial results for the Primary Election will be made available through the Florida Election Watch website.
Although polling places close at 7 p.m. local time, results will not immediately appear on the website at that exact moment. Florida operates across two time zones, Eastern and Central, and preliminary results will begin being posted at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
The results released that evening will be preliminary and unofficial. Election officials will continue the required processes following Election Day before results become official.
Florida voters will also be able to follow turnout information throughout Election Day. The state’s Election Day Turnout webpage will provide hourly turnout updates between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time.
County Supervisors of Elections will also provide turnout information for their respective counties. The state said these updates are intended to give the public a clearer picture of participation as voting continues.
Information about early voting and vote-by-mail ballots is also available through the Division of Elections. The state is providing daily statistics based on reports submitted by county Supervisors of Elections.
Those statistics include information about early voting and vote-by-mail ballot activity. County election offices are also expected to make related information available on their own websites.
The state is also maintaining records connected to voter registration. Florida’s registration deadline, known as book closing, took place July 20 for the August primary.
After the books closed, the Division of Elections prepared detailed reports showing the number of active registered voters as of the registration deadline. Those reports are available in Excel and PDF formats and include both current and archived information.
While election officials are focused on voting operations, the state is also reminding residents about the process for reporting suspected election crimes or irregularities.
The Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security, or OECS, is responsible for receiving and investigating potential violations of Florida election laws. The office was established in 2022 as a dedicated unit focused on election-related crimes and violations.
According to the state, the office was created as a first-in-the-nation unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting violations of election law. Since its creation, OECS has continued to receive complaints from the public and work with law enforcement agencies when appropriate.
This year, the office continues to handle election-related complaints. The state said OECS has received and investigated thousands of complaints and made hundreds of referrals to law enforcement.
Florida residents who believe they have information about potential election fraud or another election-related violation can report it through the state’s Voter Fraud Hotline or online complaint system.
The Voter Fraud Hotline can be reached at 877-868-3737. Complaints can also be submitted through the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security website.
The readiness update comes as election officials across Florida prepare for a full day of voting. With voters spread across the state’s two time zones and thousands of polling locations involved, officials are providing information intended to help residents understand where and when they can vote and what they need to bring with them.
For voters going to the polls on August 18, the basic requirements are straightforward. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, voters must report to their assigned polling place, and a current and valid photo ID is required.
Those who arrive before closing but are still in line at 7 p.m. will not lose their opportunity to vote. Election officials will allow voters already waiting in line at that time to cast their ballots.
Meanwhile, people following the election from home will be able to monitor preliminary results through Florida Election Watch beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Turnout information will be updated throughout Election Day, while early voting and vote-by-mail statistics will continue to be available through the Division of Elections.
State officials are urging voters to use official election resources for information about polling locations, identification requirements, voter registration and election results.
As Florida heads into the August 18 Primary Election, Byrd’s update is intended to give voters a clear picture of what to expect before they cast their ballots and how they can follow the election afterward. It also reinforces the state’s focus on election security and provides residents with a direct way to report suspected violations.
With polling places opening Tuesday morning and voting continuing through the evening, Florida voters will have the opportunity to participate in the primary and follow the results as election officials begin reporting preliminary totals.
