These are key takeaways from the recent passage of the SAVE Act by Congressional Republicans, and what you as a voter in Duval County need to keep an eye on to be able to vote this year. This is an All Hands on Deck moment - take action now to compensate for the delays in requesting paperwork, and the delays in processing voter registration. Think weeks, not days.

If you are registering to vote this year

You will need to include documentary proof of US citizenship at registration. A Florida REAL ID is not enough. You will need either:

• A valid US Passport ( https://www.usa.gov/apply-adult-passport ), or
• Your Florida REAL ID + a physical copy of your printed birth certificate with a name that matches exactly your REAL ID. If you were born in FL, you can request a birth certificate here: https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/birth-certificates/ . If you were born in another state, check out the state's Department of Health and get the order in ASAP.

If you're already registered to vote

Order your passport and/or your birth certificate anyway, and kick off your requests ASAP.

Periodically check your voter status in the runup to the election ( https://www.duvalelections.gov/205/My-Voter-Status ). One of the technically-legal-but-morally-wrong tactics Republicans are taking to prevent US Citizens from voting is to purge registered voters from the voting rolls using weak criteria. You will not be notified if you are purged from the voter rolls. If you are purged from the voter roll, you may need to visit an office in person to get re-registered, and you will have to go through the same process as a new voter seeking registration. You will not be able to get this fixed at your voting precinct on Election Day.

Key Deadlines

https://www.duvalelections.gov/255/2026-Election-Information

• In-person voting
  • Primary Election
    • Deadline to register to vote: July 20
    • Early Voting: August 3 to August 15
    • Election Day: August 18
  • General Election
    • Deadline to register to vote: October 5
    • Early Voting: October 19 to November 1
    • Election Day: November 3
• Vote-By-Mail Deadlines- Expect Vote-By-Mail to become arbitrarily difficult to the point that you'll need to vote in person. Hopefully it won't, but be ready for it.
  • Vote-By-Mail Primary Election Deadlines
    • Deadline to request that the ballot be mailed: August 6, 2026, 5 p.m.
    • Deadline to begin mailing Vote by Mail Ballots: July 4 (UOCAVA) / July 16 (Domestic)
    • Vote-by-Mail Ballots cannot be dropped off at election day precincts. If you miss the mail-in deadline, go to your local precinct and present your mail-in ballot - they will dispose of it and give you a ballot to vote in-person.
  • Vote-By-Mail General Election Deadlines
    • Deadline to request that the ballot be mailed: October 22, 2026, 5 p.m.
    • Deadline to begin mailing Vote by Mail Ballots: September 19 (UOCAVA) / October 1 (Domestic)
    • Vote-by-Mail Ballots cannot be dropped off at election day precincts. If you miss the mail-in deadline, go to your local precinct and present your mail-in ballot - they will dispose of it and give you a ballot to vote in-person.