BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL – Time is running out for Palm Beach County residents who want to vote in next month’s primary. Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link is reminding voters that Monday, July 20, 2026, is the deadline to register to vote or switch party affiliation ahead of the 2026 Primary Election, set for Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Florida runs closed primaries, meaning voters have to be registered with a political party to cast a ballot in that party’s primary. Anyone wanting to switch party affiliation for this primary must do so before the July 20 cutoff — after that, any change won’t take effect until after Election Day. Link’s office is also urging voters already on the rolls to double-check that their name, address and party affiliation are correct, and to confirm their Election Day polling place, since recent Congressional redistricting shifted some locations.
Registering or updating a registration can be done fastest online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, or by mail or in person using a Florida Voter Registration Application, available at VotePalmBeach.gov and other designated registration agencies. Some updates can also be made by phone at (561) 656-6200, though party affiliation and signature changes require paperwork and can’t be handled over the phone.
Even with closed primaries, some races are open to all voters regardless of party — nonpartisan contests like School Board and judicial races appear on every ballot, and so-called Universal Primary Contests, where every qualified candidate is from the same party and the winner will face no general election opposition, are open to all eligible voters in that district. This year there are two such contests: County Commission District 2 and Port of Palm Beach Group 4, both of which drew only Democratic candidates.
Key dates for the 2026 Primary Election:
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- Election Day: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Deadline to register or change party affiliation: Monday, July 20, 2026
- Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot: Thursday, August 6, 2026, 5 p.m.
- Early Voting: Saturday, August 8 through Sunday, August 16, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Deadline to return Vote-by-Mail ballot: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, by 7 p.m. to the Main Office or 5 p.m. to a Branch Office or Secure Ballot Intake Station
Key dates for the 2026 General Election:
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Deadline to register to vote: Monday, October 5, 2026
- Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 5 p.m.
- Early Voting: Monday, October 19 through Sunday, November 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Deadline to return Vote-by-Mail ballot: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, by 7 p.m. to the Main Office or 5 p.m. to a Branch Office or Secure Ballot Intake Station
For more information, visit VotePalmBeach.gov or call the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office at (561) 656-6200.
