Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at eight Alachua County sites. Mail ballot requests close Oct. 22.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Dates, sites and ID rules come from the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections; the mail ballot and registration deadlines were confirmed by Supervisor of Elections Kim A. Barton in WUFT’s Oct. 4 voter guide. This page is factual and endorses no candidate or measure.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting in Alachua County runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, at eight sites. Any voter in the county can use any early voting site. On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and you must vote at your own precinct.
Who to call
- Alachua County Supervisor of Elections: 352-374-5252 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays)
- TDD: 352-374-5232
- Spanish hotline (toll-free): 833-875-0365
- Office: Josiah T. Walls Building, 515 N. Main St., Suite 300, Gainesville
- Website: VoteAlachua.gov
Key dates for the Nov. 3 general election
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Voter registration closed | Monday, Oct. 5 |
| Early voting | Monday, Oct. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Last day to request a mail ballot | 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 |
| Mail ballot drop-off at the elections office | Monday, Nov. 2, and Election Day |
| Election Day | Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Mail ballots must arrive | 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 |
Registration
Registration for this election closed Oct. 5. If you missed it, you can still register now for later elections, and you can still update your address if you are already registered. Register or update online through the county’s Register to Vote page, or in person at any public library, tax collector’s office or the elections office, the supervisor’s office says.
Check your status on the county’s My Registration Status page. University of Florida students who want to vote in Gainesville should update their address before Election Day, Barton told WUFT. Updating at the polls is allowed but takes more paperwork and slows the line.
Early voting sites
| Site | Address |
|---|---|
| Supervisor of Elections Office | 515 N. Main St., Gainesville |
| Millhopper Branch Library | 3145 NW 43rd St., Gainesville |
| J. Wayne Reitz Union | 655 Reitz Union Drive, Gainesville |
| Tower Road Branch Library | 3020 SW 75th St., Gainesville |
| Santa Fe College, S-029 | 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville |
| Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center | 23100 W. Newberry Road, Newberry |
| Legacy Park Multipurpose Center | 15400 Peggy Road, Alachua |
| Hawthorne Community Center | 6700 SE 221st St., Hawthorne |
All sites are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weekends included, during the early voting period.
Election Day polling places
On Nov. 3 you must vote at your assigned polling place, not an early voting site. Find it with the county’s Precinct Finder. Barton told WUFT that changes involving Precinct 23 and the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts could move some students’ polling places this year, so check before you go. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. can still vote.
Voting by mail
- Request a ballot through the county’s Vote-by-Mail page by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
- Ballots arrive in a pink envelope; the return envelope is white and postage is prepaid.
- Sign the return envelope. Staff compare the signature with the one on file. If your signature has changed, file a new registration application with your current signature separately, before you return the ballot.
- Your ballot must arrive by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Postmarks do not count. Barton recommends mailing it at least a week ahead, because Gainesville mail is routed through Jacksonville.
- You can also drop it at a secure ballot intake station at any early voting site from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, or at the elections office on Nov. 2 and Election Day.
What ID to bring
Florida requires a current, valid photo and signature ID. The elections office accepts a Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card, U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military or student ID, retirement center or neighborhood association ID, or public assistance ID. You can combine two IDs to cover photo and signature. Without acceptable ID you vote a provisional ballot.
What this means for you
- Missed the Oct. 5 registration deadline? You cannot vote in this election, but update or register now for the next one.
- Want to avoid lines? Early voting covers two weekends, and every site serves every voter.
- On Election Day, check the Precinct Finder first; early voting sites turn away voters who are not assigned there.
Related: who to call at City Hall and moving to Gainesville.
Frequently asked questions
When is early voting in Alachua County for the 2026 general election?
Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at eight sites. Any Alachua County voter can use any site.
Where are the early voting sites in Gainesville?
In Gainesville: the Supervisor of Elections Office at 515 N. Main St., Millhopper Branch Library, the J. Wayne Reitz Union, Tower Road Branch Library and Santa Fe College. Three more sites are in Newberry, Alachua and Hawthorne.
What are the polling hours on Election Day in Alachua County?
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct, not an early voting site.
What is the deadline to request a mail ballot in Alachua County?
5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Completed ballots must reach the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks do not count.
What ID do I need to vote in Florida?
A current photo and signature ID, such as a Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card, U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military or student ID. Without one you vote a provisional ballot.
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