Photo: Ebyabe, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pasco County’s August primary is two weeks out, and if you’re not registered yet, this one’s already off the table — the registration deadline was July 20. But there’s real, still-actionable stuff here: early voting, election day itself, and a heads-up on what’s actually on the ballot.
The Dates That Matter
Primary Election Day: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Early Voting: Saturday, August 8 through Saturday, August 15, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily — confirmed directly on Pasco County Supervisor of Elections’ own site (pascovotes.gov).
Florida runs closed primaries, so only voters registered with a party can vote that party’s primary races — though any local ballot measures or nonpartisan races (like school board) are open to every registered voter regardless of party.
What’s Actually On the Ballot
The most contested local race this cycle is Pasco County School Board, where two of five seats have no incumbent running at all — eleven candidates, including Air Force veterans, longtime teachers, and business consultants, are in the running. School board is nonpartisan: if no candidate clears 50% of the vote outright on August 18, the top two finishers head to a runoff on the November 3 general election ballot.
Beyond that, your specific ballot depends on your precinct and party registration. Pasco County publishes real, official sample ballots by precinct at pascovotes.gov/elections/sample_ballots.php — that’s the one place to see exactly who and what you’ll actually be voting on, rather than relying on a generic county-wide list.
Missed the Primary Deadline? You’re Not Locked Out of November
If you’re not registered in time for the August 18 primary, you can still register for the November 3, 2026 general election — that deadline is October 5, 2026. Register or check your current registration status anytime at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, or contact the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections directly at 800-851-8754.