Hernando County’s 2026 primary is set for August 18, and with 135,767 active registered voters countywide, the next three weeks carry a string of deadlines that determine who actually gets to weigh in.
Voter registration and party-affiliation changes closed July 20 — that window’s shut. What’s still open: requests for a vote-by-mail ballot, due by August 6, and in-person early voting, which runs August 8 through 15, giving voters a full week to cast a ballot before primary day itself. The Hernando Sun has also been running a series putting 2026 candidates on stage together ahead of the vote, including a forum scheduled for July 25.
None of these dates move for anyone who misses them — a missed mail-ballot request means voting in person, and a missed early-voting window means primary day is the only option left.
Good to know: Vote-by-mail requests are due August 6. Early voting runs August 8–15. The primary is August 18.