Voting in Orange County, Florida: What You Need to Know for the 2026 Election

Wait…who exactly are we voting for in 2026?

If you live in Horizon West or anywhere in Orange County, that’s a fair question.

There is no presidential election in 2026, but this is still a major election year in Florida. Voters will choose a U.S. senator, members of Congress, Florida’s next governor, statewide cabinet officials and a long list of state and local representatives.

Orange County voters may also see county races, school board contests, judges, constitutional amendments and other questions depending on where they live.

The Florida Primary Election already took place on August 18, 2026, which means the next big date is:

General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Here’s what Orange County voters need to know before they head to the polls.

Who Are We Voting For in 2026?

We are voting for quite a few people in 2026.

Florida’s official 2026 election notice lists races for federal, statewide, legislative, judicial and local offices. Orange County ballots may include some combination of the following depending on your address.

Federal Races

United States Senate

One of Florida’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for election in 2026.

The major-party nominees heading into the General Election are:

Ashley Moody, Republican
Angie Nixon, Democrat

Other qualified candidates may also appear on the ballot. Always check your official sample ballot for the complete list.

United States House of Representatives

Every U.S. House seat is elected every two years, so congressional races are also on the 2026 ballot.

Orange County includes portions of multiple congressional districts, which means the candidates you see will depend on exactly where you live.

Find your voter information and exact ballot: voteorangefl.gov

Florida Is Electing a New Governor

This is one of the biggest races of 2026. Florida governors serve four-year terms, and voters will choose the state’s next governor and lieutenant governor in November.

The two major-party nominees are:

Republican: Byron Donalds, with Bryan Avila for lieutenant governor

Democrat: David Jolly, with Gwen Graham for lieutenant governor

There are also additional qualified candidates outside the two major parties.

View Florida’s official candidate database: myflorida.com

Florida Cabinet Races Are on the Ballot Too

Florida voters don’t just elect a governor. Three other statewide cabinet positions are elected separately.

Attorney General

The 2026 General Election includes:

James Uthmeier, Republican
Jose Javier Rodriguez, Democrat

Chief Financial Officer

The major-party candidates are:

Blaise Ingoglia, Republican
Annette Taddeo, Democrat

Commissioner of Agriculture

The major-party candidates are:

Wilton Simpson, Republican
Joey Mendoza Atkins, Democrat

A qualified write-in candidate is also listed by the Florida Division of Elections.

These offices may not get the same amount of attention as the governor’s race, but they oversee significant parts of Florida government.

What About Orange County Elections?

This is where your address really matters.

The official Orange County notice for the November election includes races for Orange County Mayor, certain County Commission districts, School Board seats, judges and several special districts.

Not every Orange County voter votes in every district race.

For example, your County Commission district, School Board district, Florida House district and congressional district are determined by where you live.

That means two friends who both live in Orange County may have different ballots.

The easiest solution?

Don’t Google “Orange County ballot” and assume every race you find applies to you.

Use the Orange County Supervisor of Elections’ voter lookup.

See what’s actually on YOUR ballot: voteorangefl.gov

The Supervisor of Elections website allows voters to check their registration, polling location and ballot information.

Yes, Orange County Mayor Is on the Ballot

Orange County is also electing a mayor in 2026.

This is a nonpartisan office, meaning candidates do not appear on the ballot with a Republican or Democratic designation.

Orange County Mayor is one of the countywide offices scheduled for the November 3 election. Local elections like this are worth paying attention to.

County government makes decisions involving things residents experience every day, including transportation, development, infrastructure, parks, public safety and growth.

For Horizon West residents in particular, those are not exactly small topics.

See the official Orange County candidate list: voteorangefl.gov

Don’t Skip the Judges

Then you reach that part of the ballot, the Judges. And suddenly a lot of voters realize they have absolutely no idea what to do. You aren’t alone.

Florida’s 2026 ballot includes judicial races and retention questions, including eligible circuit judges, county judges, District Court of Appeal judges and Florida Supreme Court justices whose terms are ending.

Judicial races are nonpartisan.

Instead of guessing, take a few minutes before voting to research:

Professional background
Judicial experience
Bar and professional evaluations
Candidate websites
News coverage
Public records when relevant

This is exactly why looking at your sample ballot before Election Day is so helpful.

There Will Also Be Florida Constitutional Amendments

Candidates aren’t the only thing you’ll vote on.

Florida voters will also see proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution.

As of September 2026, the state’s official constitutional initiative database includes ballot measures involving subjects including the Budget Stabilization Fund, taxation of tangible personal property on agricultural land and homestead/property-tax provisions.

Florida constitutional amendments require at least 60% voter approval to pass.

These can be some of the most confusing items on a ballot because the wording can be dense.

Tip: Don’t read an amendment for the first time while standing in the voting booth.

Read the actual amendment, understand what a YES vote would do, understand what a NO vote would do and look at arguments from more than one perspective.

Florida’s official election publications and 2026 constitutional amendment guide: dos.fl.gov/elections

Okay, So How Do I Vote?

Orange County gives voters several options. Here are our tips for making sure you’re prepared and able to vote.

Option 1: Vote Early

Orange County’s 2026 General Election early voting period is scheduled for:
October 19 through November 1, 2026 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Orange County is offering a longer early voting period than the minimum statewide requirement. One major advantage of early voting is flexibility.

During early voting, eligible Orange County voters can vote at any designated early voting location in Orange County, rather than being limited to their Election Day precinct.

Find Orange County early voting information: voteorangefl.gov

Option 2: Vote on Election Day

Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

On Election Day, you need to vote at your assigned polling location. Orange County’s Election Calendar confirms Election Day hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

And here’s a useful Florida rule: If you are in line by 7:00 PM, stay in line.

Find your polling place: voteorangefl.gov

Option 3: Vote By Mail

Prefer voting at the kitchen table where you can research as you go? Florida voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot. For the November 3 General Election, Orange County’s deadline to request that a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed to you is: October 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Your completed ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by the required deadline. A postmark alone does not make a late-arriving ballot count.

Request a Vote-by-Mail ballot: voteorangefl.gov

Important: Don’t Assume Your Old Vote-by-Mail Request Is Still Active

Election laws surrounding vote-by-mail requests have changed in recent years, so even if you have voted by mail before, it is smart to check your current status.

Check your voter information: voteorangefl.gov

Are You Registered to Vote?

The deadline to register for the 2026 General Election is: October 5, 2026

Florida requires voters to register no later than 29 days before an election. You can also use the state website to update your voter registration information.

Register to vote or update your registration: registertovoteflorida.gov

If you’ve recently moved, check your address.

That is especially important in a growing area like Horizon West because your address determines many of the districts and races on your ballot.

What ID Do You Need to Vote in Florida?

Florida voters voting in person must show acceptable photo and signature identification.

Acceptable IDs include options such as:

Florida driver’s license
Florida identification card
U.S. passport
Military ID
Student ID
Certain government employee IDs
Veteran health identification card

If your photo ID does not include a signature, you may be asked for an additional form of identification containing your signature.

See the complete Orange County voting requirements: voteorangefl.gov

What if You Don’t Know Who to Vote For?

That’s actually a much better starting point than blindly choosing someone because you recognize the name. You don’t need to become a political expert.

Start with your actual sample ballot and work through it one race at a time.

For each candidate, look at:

What does this office actually control?

Then ask:

What are the candidate’s priorities?
What have they done before?
How do they plan to handle the issues you care about?
Who is funding their campaign?
Do their positions match what they have actually done in office or in their career?

For local candidates, Orange County’s candidate database also provides access to campaign finance reports, including contributions and expenditures.

Orange County candidate information: voteorangefl.gov

Florida state and federal candidates: myflorida.com

A Note From Horizon West Happenings

We’re not here to tell you who to vote for. We are here to tell you to know who you’re voting for. There is a difference.

Local elections impact the roads you drive, the schools your kids attend, how our community develops, how tax dollars are spent and what Horizon West looks like five, ten and twenty years from now.

You don’t have to agree with your neighbors politically to agree on this: An informed community is a stronger community.

Read the ballot. Research the candidates. Look beyond campaign signs and social media posts. And then vote for the people and policies you believe will best represent the future you want for your community.