Florida’s early‑voting tally, released by the University of Florida Election Lab, shows that 3,531,109 ballots have been cast with six days left before Election Day. The count includes 1,938,019 in‑person early votes and 1,593,090 mail‑in ballots.
What the numbers mean for the race
Across the state, Republicans hold a modest lead among the ballots counted so far. In the nine‑county region covered by FOX 13, 854,921 votes have been recorded. Registered Republicans account for 351,695 of those votes, while Democrats total 323,582, and 179,644 voters are registered with a minor party or no major party.
County‑by‑county detail shows the lead varies. Hillsborough County leads the region with 226,598 ballots cast, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 16,392. Pinellas County reports 184,597 ballots, with Democrats holding a narrower 3,402‑voter registration edge. Republicans lead in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco and Sarasota counties. Polk County remains almost evenly split, with 38,318 Republican registrants and 38,186 Democrats among the 94,469 ballots counted.
Candidate messages as the final stretch begins
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds addressed supporters at a Tallahassee rally, urging voters to “get out and vote” over the next seven days. Democratic candidate David Jolly also campaigned in Tallahassee, focusing on affordability, health‑care and education, warning families about rising housing costs and the state’s approach to public education.
Both candidates acknowledge the importance of the remaining early‑voters and the mail‑in ballots that will be counted after Election Day. Utility costs and the growth of AI data centers have emerged as additional topics in the statewide conversation.
Historical context
In the 2022 midterm, more than 5 million Floridians voted before Election Day, with roughly 2.77 million casting mail ballots and 2.29 million voting early in person. While the 2026 early‑voting total is already above 3.5 million, it remains well short of the 2022 pre‑Election Day total, underscoring that a substantial portion of the electorate still has time to vote.
What remains unknown
Party registration does not guarantee how an individual will vote. A registered Republican could support a Democratic candidate, and vice‑versa. The final outcome will depend on the remaining early voters, mail‑in ballots that arrive after the deadline, and the turnout on Election Day, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Election officials continue to process ballots and will release updated totals as the vote count progresses. Voters are encouraged to verify their registration status and to vote early or by mail to ensure their voice is heard.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
