An official government website. Here's how you know ➞

×
Voter Guides

Voter Guides

Home / Voters / Voter Guides

Primary Elections

Florida is a closed primary election state. That means that only voters who are registered members of a political party which has candidates on the primary ballot may vote for that party's candidates at the primary election. The deadline for a voter to make a party affiliation change is no later than 29 days before a primary election.


In a primary election, each voter will receive a ballot based on the legal residential address and party affiliation recorded in his or her voter registration record.

  • Universal Primary Contest: All candidates in the same race have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election.
  • Nonpartisan Offices: Includes races for judicial, school board, certain special districts, municipal races and other local offices.
  • Local Referendum Questions: County, municipal, and district referendums and other ballot measures that may be on the ballot.

General Elections

In a general election, each voter will receive a ballot based on the legal residential address recorded in his or her voter registration record.


All eligible voters can vote for any candidate or issue regardless of party affiliation on the general election ballot.

The following types of candidates will only appear on a General Election ballot:

  • No Party Affiliation Candidates: Candidates qualifying with no party affiliation. 
  • Write-in Candidates: If there are write-in candidates who have qualified for a particular office, a line will be provided on the ballot for the voter to write in the candidate's name.


Proposed Constitutional Amendments and other ballot measures: Proposed amendments to Florida's Constitution may also be on the ballot, as well as county, municipal, and district referenda or other ballot measures.

Share by: