Q: The Aug. 18, 2026, primary election is only two months away. What is the Elections Office doing to prepare?
A: The Elections Office is entering a very busy period. Preparations this month include the start of poll worker training, the mailing of our publication, the Citizen’s Guide to Registering and Voting, and the upcoming candidate qualifying period.
Candidate qualifying will take place from noon on June 8 through noon on June 12. Pursuant to Section 99.061(8) of the Florida Statutes, qualifying papers have been accepted since May 26.
Q: Have any offices qualified already?
A: Yes. The first qualifying period of 2026 ran from April 20 through April 24. During this time, candidates for U.S. senator and judicial offices filed with the Florida Division of Elections.
The filing period for U.S. representative was moved to June when Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session to convene the legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts. These candidates do not file with the supervisor of elections. More information is available on the Florida Division of Elections website.
Following the completion of the special session, there were no changes to the congressional boundaries in St. Johns County. Congressional Districts 5 and 6 remain unchanged.
Q: What offices qualify with the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office during the June qualifying period?
A: The Elections Office will qualify candidates for all county offices, special districts, municipalities and community development districts.
The Florida Division of Elections in Tallahassee will qualify candidates for federal and state offices, including U.S. representative, governor, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, chief financial officer, state representative and others.
Q: Can voters see which candidates are qualifying?
A: Yes. As local candidates file, their information is added into our system and posted on our website. Voters can visit votesjc.gov, select Candidate Information, then choose Candidate List and Reports to view the latest updates.
Q: Where can voters find more information about the 2026 elections?
A: In mid-June, the 2026 Citizen’s Guide to the Primary and General Elections will be mailed to every residential address in St. Johns County. This publication provides all the information residents will need on how to register and participate in the 2026 elections.
Voters can also visit votesjc.gov any time for trusted election information. For additional assistance, please contact the Elections Office at 904-823-2238 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vicky Oakes is the St. Johns County supervisor of elections.
