Election Year: What You Need to Know

Supervisor of Elections Leah Valenti has changed your precinct number, and, in many cases, your poll location may have changed too, but you have most likely not received your new voter registration card, which means you may experience difficulties voting come Election Day.

While you’re supposed to receive a new voter registration card, don’t take things for granted and don’t allow yourself to be turned away at the polls because you don’t have an updated voter registration card.

Get proactive and go request your updated voter registration card that reflects the changes the SOE implemented.

Supervisor of Elections, Leah Valenti, does not appear to support voting on Election Day only, as her website clearly demonstrates it by pushing heavily for Vote-by-Mail using mail-in ballots. In today’s day and age, this is serious concern, as it has, in the past in multiple precincts around the nation, open the door for SOEs to sort through ballots – even when the SOE is a candidate for reelection – and eliminate ballots before election day.

Don’t become a victim to your ballot potentially getting lost or disqualified.

Instead, mark your calendar now for the important dates below vote on election day only. Mail-in ballots do indeed increase the risk of rigged elections.

FLORIDA IS A CLOSED PRIMARY STATE

Note that Florida is a Closed Primary State, which means that you can only vote in the Primaries if you are registered with a party. If you are an NPA – Non-Party-Affliate – you cannot vote in the primaries. Make sure you register your party affiliation by July 20, 2026 so you can exercise your constitutional right to vote and not be turned away at the voting location.

You are not required to choose a political party when registering to vote. However, if you want to participate in a partisan primary election, you must be registered with the same party holding that primary.

In practical terms, this means:

  • Only voters registered as Republicans can vote for Republican candidates in a Republican primary.
  • Only voters registered as Democrats can vote for Democratic candidates in a Democratic primary.

If you want to change your party affiliation, you must update your voter registration with the Supervisor of Elections office at least 29 days before the election.

IMPORTANT DATES: 2026 Primary Election Dates

  1. Sat, Jul. 4 – Vote-By-Mail Sent to UOCAVA Voters
  2. Thu, Jul. 9 – Thu, Jul. 16 – Vote-By-Mail Sent to Domestic Voters
  3. Mon, Jul. 20 – Voter Registration Deadline
  4. Sat, Jul. 25 – Poll Watcher Deadline for Early Voting
  1. Tue, Aug. 4 – Poll Watcher Deadline for Election Day
  2. Thu, Aug. 6 – Last Day to Request Vote-By-Mail Ballots
  3. Sat, Aug. 8 – Sat, Aug. 15 – Early Voting
  4. Tue, Aug. 18 – Election Day THIS IS THE DAY YOU SHOULD VOTE. Not Early-Voting nor Mail-In Ballots

IMPORTANT DATES: 2026 General Election Dates

  1. Sat, Sep. 19 – Vote-By-Mail Sent to UOCAVA Voters
  2. Thu, Sep. 24 – Thu, Oct. 1 – Vote-By-Mail Sent to Domestic Voters
  3. Mon, Oct. 5 – Voter Registration Deadline
  4. Mon, Oct. 5 – Poll Watcher Deadline for Early Voting
  1. Mon, Oct. 19 – Sat, Oct. 31 – Early Voting
  2. Tue, Oct. 20 – Poll Watcher Deadline for Election Day
  3. Thu, Oct. 22 – Last Day to Request Vote-By-Mail
  4. Tue, Nov. 3 – Election Day THIS IS THE DAY YOU SHOULD VOTE. Not Early-Voting nor Mail-In Ballots

ALERT: ALL NEW PRECINCTS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Check your NEW voter registration card when you have gone to get it and mark where you’re now going to be voting. In some cases, it may be the same as in the 2024 election, but don’t bank on it.

Get Your New and Updated Voter Registration Card Now.

Contact the Charlotte County Elections Office at 226 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

Phone: 941-833-5400    Website: soecharlottecountyfl.com

PrecinctPolling LocationAddress of Polling Location
101Harold Ave Regional Park23400 Harold AvePort Charlotte33980
102Moose Lodge 3462 Loveland BlvdPort Charlotte33952
102.1Moose Lodge 3462 Loveland BlvdPort Charlotte33952
103Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church24411 Rampart BlvdPort Charlotte33984
104Deep Creek Elementary26900 Harborview RdPort Charlotte33980
105East Elementary27075 Fairway DrPunta Gorda33982
106Babcock Ranch Field House43281 Cypress PkwyBabcock Ranch33982
106.1Babcock Ranch Field House43281 Cypress PkwyBabcock Ranch33982
201Charlotte Harbor Event Center75 Taylor StPunta Gorda33950
201.1Charlotte Harbor Event Center75 Taylor StPunta Gorda33950
202Isles Yacht Club1780 W. Marion AvePunta Gorda33950
203Congregational United Church of Christ1201 Aqui EstaPunta Gorda33950
204Burnt Store Presbyterian Church11330 Burnt Store RdPunta Gorda33955
204.1Burnt Store Presbyterian Church11330 Burnt Store RdPunta Gorda33955
205Burnt Store Presbyterian Church11330 Burnt Store RdPunta Gorda33955
205.1Burnt Store Presbyterian Church11330 Burnt Store RdPunta Gorda33955
206East Elementary27075 Fairway DrPunta Gorda33982
206.1East Elementary27075 Fairway DrPunta Gorda33982
207South PG Heights Civic Association11200 First AvePunta Gorda33955
301Mac V. Horton West County Annex6868 San Casa DrEnglewood34223
302L.A. Ainger Middle School245 Couger WayRotonda West33947
303Tringali Community Center3460 S. McCall RdEnglewood34224
304Tringali Community Center3460 S. McCall RdEnglewood34224
305American Legion3436 Indiana RdRotonda West34224
305.1American Legion3436 Indiana RdRotonda West34224
305.2American Legion3436 Indiana RdRotonda West34224
306Rotonda West Association646 Rotonda CirRotonda West33947
306.1Rotonda West Association646 Rotonda CirRotonda West33947
307Myakka River Elem.12650 Wilmington BlvdPort Charlotte33981
308Rotonda West Assoc.646 Rotonda CirRotonda West33947
308.1Rotonda West Assoc.646 Rotonda CirRotonda West33947
401L.A. Ainger Middle School245 Couger WayRotonda West33947
402Myakka River Elementary12650 Wilmington BlvdPort Charlotte33981
403Centennial Park1120 Centennial BlvdPort Charlotte33953
403.1Centennial Park1120 Centennial BlvdPort Charlotte33953
404Centennial Park1120 Centennial BlvdPort Charlotte33953
404.1Centennial Park1120 Centennial BlvdPort Charlotte33953
405Murdock Middle School17325 Mariner WayPort Charlotte33948
406Murdock Baptist Church18375 Cochran BlvdPort Charlotte33948
407Meadow Park Elementary750 Essex AvePort Charlotte33948
408Mid County Library2050 Forrest Nelson BlvdPort Charlotte33952
501Liberty Elem.370 Atwater StPort Charlotte33954
501.1Liberty Elem.370 Atwater StPort Charlotte33954
502Neil Armstrong Elementary22100 Breezeswept AvePort Charlotte33952
503Port Charlotte Middle23000 Midway BlvdPort Charlotte33952
504Mid County Library2050 Forrest Nelson BlvdPort Charlotte33952
505Peace River Elementary4070 Beaver LnPort Charlotte33980
505.1Peace River Elementary4070 Beaver LnPort Charlotte33980
505.2Peace River Elementary4070 Beaver LnPort Charlotte33980

1 thought on “Election Year: What You Need to Know”

  1. Michael Muscari

    It is with great consternation for so many registered voters that now it is obvious that the real voter registration drive in Charlotte County must include a visit to the SOE’s office to affirm one’s status as a registered voter and as such in a particular party since Florida has closed primaries. In fact, the case can now be made that it is mandatory for every voter who wants their vote to count to visit the SOE’s office in person to be sure they have a current voter information card that the current SOE and the polling places will accept. Many questions arise about our county’s voter database and whether it is accurate or vulnerable to manipulation. Given the vast percentage of employees now in the SOE’s office are reportedly temporaries, the appearance of improprieties expands even more.
    In addition to reports that the SOE salary of @ $180,000 per year and that the current SOE is also on the payroll of the Ramba firm which leads the Assn of Florida SOE (unsure of the official name of the organization), many questions and seemingly conflicts of interest create a less than acceptable pattern of accountability. These and other concerns are more than voters can cope with and it is time for voters to affirm and confirm their personal voter status.

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