TALLAHASSEE, FL, Nov. 3, 2026 — Florida's polls close at 7 p.m. tonight, and state law sets the clock for what happens after that.

When polls close: Polls open at 7 a.m. and stay open until 7 p.m., set by "the customary time in standard use in the county seat," according to section 100.011, Florida Statutes. In the western Panhandle counties that run on Central time, that's 8 p.m. Eastern. The same law says anyone "in line at the time of the official closing of the polls shall be allowed to cast a vote."

Mail ballots: To be counted, a vote-by-mail ballot has to reach your county supervisor of elections by 7 p.m. today, except for certain overseas ballots, under section 101.67(2). Before Election Day, 5,408,792 Floridians had already voted by mail or early in person, according to the state's count we reported Monday.

The first numbers: Supervisors had to load the early voting and mail ballot results counted through the end of early voting into their county systems by 7 p.m. Monday, but section 102.141(4) says those results "may not be made public before the close of the polls on election day." Within 30 minutes after polls close, each county canvassing board must report all early voting and tabulated vote-by-mail results to the Florida Department of State. After that, counties must send updated precinct results, not counting provisional ballots, "at least every 45 minutes until all results are completely reported."

Where to follow along: The Florida Department of State posts results on its election results site. For local and municipal results, the state says to contact your county supervisor of elections.

When it's final: Election night totals are unofficial. Counties must send unofficial returns to the state no later than noon on the fourth day after a general election, under section 102.141(5), which is noon Saturday, Nov. 7. Certified county returns are due no later than noon on the 13th day, under section 102.112(2), which is noon Monday, Nov. 16. If returns don't arrive because of an emergency as defined in section 101.732, section 102.112 says the Elections Canvassing Commission sets the deadline.

Still voting today? Flooding has moved some polling places, so check our list of temporary sites before you go.

Launchpad will report the results as counties post them tonight.

Sources: Florida Statutes 100.011, 101.67, 101.732, 102.112 and 102.141 (Florida Senate); Florida Department of State election results and supervisor of elections contacts.

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