Polk County votes Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting runs Oct. 24-31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at two Lakeland sites. Mail ballot requests are due 5 p.m. Oct. 22.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the Polk County Supervisor of Elections and its vote-by-mail page, Florida Statute 101.043 on voter ID, and LkldNow’s voter guide for the 2026 dates and Lakeland early voting sites. This page is factual only and endorses no candidate or measure.

Elections in Lakeland are run by the Polk County Supervisor of Elections, not the city. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. You can vote early in person, by mail or at your precinct on Election Day.

Who to call

  • Polk County Supervisor of Elections: 863-534-5888
  • Election Headquarters: 250 S. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
  • Elections Operations Center: 70 Florida Citrus Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33880
  • Look up your registration: voter lookup
  • Find your precinct: Where Do I Vote

Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026

Date Deadline
Monday, Oct. 5 (passed) Last day to register or change party for this election
Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m. Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot
Saturday, Oct. 24, to Saturday, Oct. 31 Early voting, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day; mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 5 p.m. Last day to fix a missing signature on a mail ballot (cure affidavit)

Registering

Missed Oct. 5? You can still register for future elections, or update your address, online at the state’s RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. If you moved within Polk County, update your address; the Supervisor of Elections mails address notices with a reply postcard.

Early voting in Lakeland

Early voting runs Oct. 24-31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The two sites in Lakeland:

  • Polk County Government Center, 930 E. Parker St.
  • Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin L. King Jr. Ave.

Voting by mail

Any registered voter can vote by mail, the Supervisor of Elections says:

  • Request online on the vote-by-mail page, by calling 863-534-5888, or in person at either elections office. Only the voter, an immediate family member or a legal guardian can request a ballot.
  • Requests expire after every general election, so voters who asked for ballots before must ask again after this one.
  • Return it early. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day; the office suggests mailing them 10 days ahead. You can also drop a ballot at an elections office before 7 p.m.
  • Do not take it to your precinct on Election Day: you will have to surrender it and vote there instead.
  • Forgot to sign? The ballot will not count unless you return a cure affidavit by 5 p.m. on the second day after the election.
  • Mail ballots are not forwarded by the Postal Service; tell the office if your mailing address changes.

Election Day

On Nov. 3 you must vote at your assigned precinct; look it up with Where Do I Vote. Under state law, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line at 7 p.m. may vote.

What ID to bring

Florida law requires a current, valid photo ID at the polls. Accepted IDs under Florida Statute 101.043, as amended in 2026:

  1. Florida driver’s license
  2. Florida ID card from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  3. U.S. passport or passport card
  4. U.S. uniformed services or Merchant Marine ID
  5. Veteran health ID card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  6. Florida concealed weapon or firearm license
  7. Any other ID card issued by the federal government, the state, a county or a city, except IDs from a school or college

If the photo ID has no signature, bring a second ID that shows your signature. Without ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot, which the county canvassing board then reviews.

What is on the ballot

Depending on where you live in Lakeland, your ballot includes races for U.S. House District 18, Florida Senate District 12, Florida House District 49, 50 or 51, Polk County Commission District 4 and a School Board District 3 runoff, LkldNow’s guide says. Countywide, voters decide a 1-mill school property tax referendum (it passed, the school district said Nov. 4), and statewide, Amendment 3 on homestead exemptions.

What this means for you

  • Request a mail ballot by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and send it back right away.
  • Early voting starts Saturday, Oct. 24, at 930 E. Parker St. and Simpson Park.
  • Bring a photo ID; a student ID no longer counts.

Related: Polk County property taxes and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I vote early in Lakeland?

Lakeland’s two early voting sites are the Polk County Government Center, 930 E. Parker St., and the Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin L. King Jr. Ave. Early voting runs Oct. 24-31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

When is the deadline to request a mail ballot in Polk County?

5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election, which is Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. Completed ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Is it too late to register to vote in Florida for November 2026?

Yes, for this election. The deadline to register or change party for the Nov. 3 general election was Oct. 5. You can still register now for later elections.

What ID do I need to vote in Florida?

A current, valid photo ID such as a Florida driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID or a veteran health ID. If it has no signature, bring a second ID with your signature. Without ID you can cast a provisional ballot.

How do I find my polling place in Polk County?

Use the Supervisor of Elections’ Where Do I Vote lookup, or call 863-534-5888. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct.