Pinellas Election Day 2026 Voting Guide: Where, How To Vote; Candidates

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Voters in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and across Pinellas County will take to the polls on Tuesday, deciding governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislative races, along with local contests, in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

They will also have a say on state constitutional amendments and county charter referendums on Election Day.

Most Florida polling places are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, while some counties in the Panhandle are open until 8 p.m. EST because they're in the Central Time Zone. (Be sure to bring a photo ID with you.)

Find more information on how to vote, as well as candidates and issues on this year's ballot below.

Voter Turnout

Even before the polls open on Tuesday morning, about 40 percent of about 13.7 million registered voters in Florida have already cast their ballots, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.

Nearly 5.46 million voters in the state voted early, either in person (nearly 3.47 million) or by mail (about 1.99 million), according to the Election Lab.

About 2.06 million or 37.8 percent of registered Democrats and about 2.92 million or 40.2 percent of registered Republicans opted to vote early, data shows. About 1.2 million or 22 percent of independent voters also voted early.

In Pinellas County, just over 43 percent (nearly 265,000) of eligible voters voted early, with about 175,000 voting in person and nearly 90,000 voting by mail, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office.

Of these early voters, nearly 104,000 are registered Democrats, nearly 100,000 are Republicans, more than 54,000 have no party affiliation and about 7,000 are connected to other parties, data shows.

How to Vote in Pinellas County

Polling places across the county are open to registered voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on Nov. 3. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

On Election Day, you may only vote in person at the polling place assigned to your district.

Before voting, you can review your voter registration information, including where you vote, here. You can also review your personalized sample ballot.

If you voted by mail, you can track the status of your ballot here.

Forms of ID

In order to cast your ballot at the polls, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station.

Acceptable forms of ID in Florida include:

• Florida driver license
• Florida ID card (issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement center ID
• Neighborhood association ID
• Public assistance ID
• Veteran health ID (issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Concealed weapon license (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
• Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID doesn't contain your signature, an additional ID with your signature is required.

Without proper identification, you may still vote with a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

Candidates and Issues

Pinellas County voters will cast votes for candidates in multiple state and local races, and will also have a say in statewide and county issues in the Nov. 3 general election.

A sample ballot can be found here.

The following candidates and issues will be on the ballot. Voters will select one in each race unless noted otherwise.

Patch sent candidate questionnaires to those running for Pinellas County Commission and Pinellas County Schools seats, as well as St. Pete City Council and Clearwater City Council. The profiles of candidates who responded to our questionnaires are linked at their name; if a candidate name has no link, that means they didn’t respond.

Federal Races:

U.S. Senator

• Ashley Moody, Republican
• Angie Nixon, Democrat
• Neil J. Gillespie, No Party Affiliation

U.S House of Representatives, District 13

• Anna Paulina Luna, Republican
• Leela Gray, Democrat
• Tony D’Arrigo, No Party Affiliation

U.S House of Representatives, District 16

• Sydney Gruters, Republican
• Kelly Kirschner, Democrat
• Mark Davis, No Party Affiliation

State Candidate Contests:

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

• Byron Donalds/Bryan Avila, Republican
• David Jolly/Gwen Graham, Democrat
• Scott Eckhard Jewett/Nicole Skelly, Libertarian Party of Florida
• Charles Burkett/Ruben Coto, No Party Affiliation
• Frank J. Russo/Rachel Rodriguez, No Party Affiliation
• Moliere “Moe” Dimanche/Benjaman Rojas, No Party Affiliation
• Dean Ocean Abrams/Joe Van Vactor, No Party Affiliation
• Jeffrey Peter “Dr. Jeff” Datto/Juan Santana, No Party Affiliation
• Qualified Write-In Candidates - Kathy Anderson/Daniel Nokovich and Erik Morris/LeRoy Alaways

Attorney General

• James Uthmeier, Republican
• Jose Javier Rodriguez, Democrat

Chief Financial Officer

• Blaise Ingoglia, Republican
• Annette Taddeo, Democrat

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Wilton Simpson, Republican
• Joey Mendoza Atkins, Democrat
• Qualified Write-In Candidate - Kyle “KC” Gibson

State Senator, District 18

• Nick DiCeglie, Republican
• Karla Kemp, Democrat

State Senator, District 21

• Chris Nocco, Republican
• Jordan Hensley, Democrat

State Representative, District 57

• Adam C. Anderson, Republican
• Wendy Hoy, Democrat

State Representative, District 58

• Kimberly “Kim” Berfield, Republican
• Bryan Beckman, Democrat

State Representative, District 59

• Berny Jacques, Republican
• Susan Rochelle Leff, Democrat

State Representative, District 60

• Melissa Rutland, Republican
• Lindsay Polega-Quigley, Democrat

State Representative, District 61

• Linda Chaney, Republican
• May Thach, Democrat

Judicial Retention:

Justice of the Supreme Court

Shall Justice Carlos G. Muniz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

District Court of Appeal

Shall Justice Drew Atkins of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Morris Silberman of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Daniel H. Sleet of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Andrea Teves Smith of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Pinellas County Races:

Board of County Commissioners, District 2, At Large

• Brian Scott, Republican
• Tim Hughes, Democrat

Board of County Commissioners, District 6, Single Member

• Kathleen Peters, Republican
• David Glenn Jr., Democrat

School Board, District 3, At Large

• Curtis Campogni
• Dawn Peters

Municipal and Special District Races

East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District, Seat 2

• Jim Downes
• Bob Fornwalt

Palm Harbor Special Fire Control and Rescue District, Seat 2

• Benjamin Nichols
• Julie Peluso

Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District, Seat 2

• Elizabeth "Betsey" McKenna
• Daniel Mynsberge

Eastlake Oaks Community Development District, Seat 2

• Joshua Main
• J.R. "Nick" Yagnik

Belleair Beach City Council

• Kent A. Goff
• Annette Hopper
• Lloyd A. Roberts
• Jody Shirley

Clearwater City Council, Seat 5

• Mark Bunker
• Sam Wilson

Dunedin City Commission, Seat 4

• Nan Bennett
• Mark A. Ossian

Largo City Commission, Seat 2

• Curtis A. Holmes
• Matthew Faustini

Seminole City Council

• Ray Beliveau
• Mike Lurie
• Kadi Hendricks Tubbs

St. Petersburg Mayor

• Charlie Crist
• Kenneth T. Welch

St. Petersburg City Council, District 2

• Courtney Bermudez
• Gabriel Hament

St. Petersburg City Council, District 6

• Linsey Grove
• Trevor Mallory

Florida Constitutional Amendments:

No. 1 - Constitutional Amendment Article II, Section 19 - Budget Stabilization Fund

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to increase the amount of funds that may be retained in the budget stabilization fund from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections, require the legislature to transfer the lesser of $750 million or the amount required to reach 25% of the general revenue collections each year unless certain conditions are met, and allow the legislature to withdraw funds for critical state needs.

• Yes
• No

No. 2 - Constitutional Amendment, Article VII, Section 3; Article XII - Exemption of Tangible Personal Property on Agricultural Land from Taxation

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to exempt tangible personal property habitually located or typically present on land classified as agricultural, used in the production of agricultural products or for agritourism activities, and owned by the landowner or leaseholder of the agricultural land from ad valorem taxation. If approved this amendment would first apply for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.

• Yes
• No

No. 3 - Constitutional Amendment Article VII, Sections 4, 6 and 9; Article XII - Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments

This amendment increases the homestead exemption, for all non-school taxes, to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and adjusts for inflation thereafter. It requires the Legislature to prescribe a uniform procedure for counties and municipalities, for their respective levies, to increase the homestead exemption up to full assessed value, and allows special districts, subject to referendum approval, to do the same.

Persons who are not Florida residents on December 31, 2026, will receive the existing homestead exemption upon qualifying for a homestead exemption, with the increased homestead exemption beginning with the fifth year of exemption, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Constitution.

This amendment reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.

This amendment requires counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees, and operations and administration. Other expenditures may be approved by county officers or county or municipal governing bodies unless prohibited by general law, notwithstanding Article VII, Section 9(a) of the Florida Constitution, which allows counties and municipalities to levy property taxes for their respective purposes.

This amendment takes effect January 1, 2027.

• Yes
• No

Town of Belleair Charter Amendments:

No. 1 Charter Amendment

Removing the Requirement the Town Commission Appoint a Planning and Zoning Board

Shall Section 5.04 of the Charter for the Town of Belleair be amended to remove the requirement that the Town Commission appoint a planning and zoning board because the language is unnecessary since Florida law requires the Town to appoint a local planning agency?

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Charter Amendment

Amending the Month the Charter Review Committee is Established

Shall Section 10.01 of the Charter for the Town of Belleair be amended to change the month the Charter Review Committee is established from June to May beginning in 2036 thereby providing the Charter Review Committee sufficient time to perform its duties and provide the Town with the time necessary to meet Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections deadlines allowing proposed amendments to be on the ballot for the general election the following November?

• Yes
• No

City of Largo Referendum Question:

Change of Date when Petitions for Candidates for Mayor and City Commission are First Available

Shall section 7.02(a) of the City of Largo Charter be amended to change the date that petitions for candidates for Mayor and City Commission are first available to March 15 of each year of a regular city election, or a date selected by the City Commission for a special election, all as more fully described in Ordinance No. 2025-24?

• Yes
• No

City of Madeira Beach Charter Amendments:

No. 1 Charter Amendment

Change Municipal Election Date from March to November

Shall the City of Madeira Beach Charter be amended to change the date of regular municipal elections from March to November, so City elections occur in conjunction with the State General Election?

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Charter Amendment

Change Candidate Qualifying Period from December to June

Shall the City of Madeira Beach Charter be amended to change the municipal candidate qualifying period from the first two full weeks in December, excluding weekends, to the first two full weeks in June, excluding weekends, to align with the revised November Municipal General Election schedule?

• Yes
• No

No. 3 Charter Amendment

Extend Terms of Elected Officials to Implement November Elections

Shall the City Charter be amended to temporarily extend the terms of Commissioner District 3 and Commissioner District 4 until certification of the November 2027 election results; and the terms of Commissioner District 1, Commissioner District 2, and Mayor-Commissioner until certification of the November 2028 election results in order to implement the transition from March Municipal Elections to November Municipal General Elections?

• Yes
• No

Town of Redington Shores Referendum Questions:

No. 1 Referendum Question - Commissioners’ Term of Office

Charter section 5 currently provides that the term of office for a Commissioner is two years. Should section 5 of the Charter be amended to convert terms of the Commissioners to three years?

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Referendum Question -Mayoral 2027 Term of Office

Charter section 5 currently provides that the term of office for the Mayor is three years. If Referendum Question No. 1 passes, extending the term of office for a Commissioner to three years should the Charter be amended to provide the term of office for the Mayor following the 2027 General Election only be two years to maintain staggered terms of office for the Mayor and Commissioners?

• Yes
• No

City of St. Petersburg Referendum Questions and Charter Amendments:

No. 1 Referendum Question - Stormwater, Wastewater and/or Potable Water Improvements General Obligation Bond Referendum

Shall the City finance storm resilience improvements, including but not limited to, floodwater protection, stormwater pump stations, drainage infrastructure, as well as wastewater collection and treatment facilities, drinking water distribution and supply facilities, by issuing general obligation bonds in one or more series, not exceeding $600,000,000, bearing interest not exceeding maximum legal rates, maturing not more than 30 years from each issuance date, pledging the City's full faith, credit, and unlimited ad valorem taxing power?

• Yes - For Bonds
• No - Against Bonds

No. 1 Charter Amendment - Removing City-Owned Vacant Lots from Park and Waterfront Map to Create Housing

The City Charter Park and Waterfront Map contains a composite parcel identified as “Jamestown” composed of: Unity Park, recreational open space within Jamestown apartments, and nine City-owned lots in the adjacent neighborhood that are vacant and closed to the public. Shall the City Charter be amended to remove those nine vacant lots from the Map to allow subsequent / separate land use changes and potential sale of those lots for affordable or workforce housing?

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Referendum Question - Authorizing Amendment of Harborage Marina Lease to Extend Term to 30 Years and Require Improvements

May City Council approve amendment of the lease of City-owned submerged lands at Harborage Marina subject to conditions in ordinance 640-H? Such amendment would extend the term of the lease to 30 years and require the tenant to construct new improvements at no cost to the City, including 200 linear feet of docks, boat lifts, and expanded restrooms. Those improvements would be owned by the City at the end of the lease.

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Charter Amendment - Authorizing a 25-year Lease Limitation for the Port of St. Petersburg

The City Charter currently limits leases at the Port of St. Petersburg to 10 years without approval by citywide referendum. Shall the Charter be amended to increase that limitation to 25 years? That amendment would make the Port consistent with adjacent Albert Whitted Airport and provide the City with additional flexibility to enter into agreements with private entities for redevelopment of Port facilities. That amendment would not change the permitted use of the Port.

• Yes
• No

No. 3 Charter Amendment - Technical, Clarifying, and Conforming Changes to Effectuate Holding Municipal Elections in Even-Numbered Years

In 2022, voters in a citywide referendum approved amendment of the City Charter to reschedule elections for Mayor and Council Members to even-numbered years so that City elections would align with national and state elections beginning in 2024. Shall the Charter be amended to make technical, clarifying, and conforming changes necessary and appropriate to fully effectuate the intent of the 2022 referendum, including alignment of the Charter-review process with the current election schedule?

• Yes
• No

City of Treasure Island Referendum Question:

Shall Charter be Amended Requiring Four Commissioners’ Approval for Planned Developments or Special Area Plans

Shall the Treasure Island City Charter Section 3.07(c) be amended to require that “a supermajority vote of four members of the board of commissioners shall be required for the approval of any planned developments or special area plans?” This provision will become effective immediately upon approval by the electors or as otherwise provided by law.

• Yes
• No