Vote-by-Mail: 2026 Primary Election
Everything you need to know about voting by mail in St. Lucie County — how to request your ballot, key deadlines, and what recent legislation means for you.
Primary Election Day: August 18, 2026
⚠️ Your Vote-by-Mail Request Has Expired
Under Florida Statute 101.62, all vote-by-mail requests expired on December 31, 2024. A VBM request is valid only through the end of the calendar year of the next regularly scheduled general election. The 2024 General Election was the last covered cycle.
This means that even if you have voted by mail for years, you will not automatically receive a ballot for the August 18, 2026 Primary unless you submit a new request. No exceptions.
You must submit a new vote-by-mail request today.
Vote-by-Mail: Facts vs. Myths
There has been significant media coverage of proposed changes to vote-by-mail at both the federal and state level. Here are the facts for St. Lucie County voters:| ❌ Myth | ✅ Fact |
|---|---|
| MYTH New laws have eliminated vote-by-mail in Florida. |
FACT Vote-by-mail is fully available for the August 18, 2026 Primary Election. Any registered voter can request a mail ballot with no excuse needed. |
| MYTH HB 991 changes how you vote by mail. |
FACT HB 991 (the 2026 Election Integrity Act) does not take effect until January 1, 2027, and it does not restrict vote-by-mail. It has no impact on the 2026 elections. |
| MYTH The federal SAVE Act affects Florida vote-by-mail. |
FACT Florida's law is separate from the federal SAVE Act. While the federal bill proposes mail ballot restrictions, Florida's HB 991 does not limit vote-by-mail. |
| MYTH Mail ballots are only for people who are out of town or have a disability. |
FACT Florida is a no-excuse vote-by-mail state. Any registered voter may request and cast a mail ballot for any reason. |
| MYTH Mail ballots are only counted if races are close. |
FACT Every valid mail ballot is counted in every election, regardless of the margin. In fact, VBM and early vote results are typically included in the first results posted on Election Night. |
Understanding HB 991
CS/CS/HB 991 (the 2026 Election Integrity Act) was passed by the Florida Legislature in March 2026. Here is a summary of its key provisions and when they take effect:
Effective January 1, 2027Acceptable Voter IdentificationBeginning in 2027, the following will be accepted at the polls:
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Effective January 1, 2027Citizenship VerificationVoter registration applications will verify citizenship through DHSMV records when available. Applicants whose citizenship cannot be verified may need to provide documentation to the Supervisor of Elections. |
Effective January 1, 2027Voter List MaintenanceThe bill expands language around reviewing potentially ineligible voters based on citizenship status. The underlying review process remains the same as current law. |
Effective NowCandidate Qualification ChangesEffective upon becoming law:
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Effective NowOffice HoursSupervisor of Elections offices may close to observe legal holidays and other approved holidays when not otherwise required to be open under the Florida Election Code. |
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ℹ️Bottom Line for 2026 VotersThe voter identification and citizenship verification provisions of HB 991 do not take effect until January 1, 2027. They will not be implemented before the 2026 Gubernatorial Election Cycle. For the August 18, 2026 Primary and the November 3, 2026 General Election, nothing has changed about how you register, request a mail ballot, or vote. |
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Spanish: (772) 448-5169
Your signed ballot must be received by our office by 7:00 PM on Election Day, August 18, 2026. You can return it by:
- U.S. Mail — Mail early to avoid late delivery.
- Secure Ballot Intake Station — Available during early voting (August 8–15) and on Election Day.
- In person — Drop it off at any of our office locations listed below.