Early voting for the General Election opens Monday
Mail ballots have been sent out, deadlines to register have passed, and next week, early voting for the 2026 General Election begins.
Early voting in Lee County begins Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Oct. 31.
Sites throughout the county will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, including weekends. Voters also can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at secure ballot intake stations at early voting sites during the early voting window.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka said the office is ready for the General Election to start.
“Preparations begin months in advance to ensure a smooth and successful election,” she said. “Part of our prep includes thoroughly testing all of our election equipment, securing early voting sites, coordinating equipment delivery, and training and scheduling approximately 500 poll workers for early voting.”
For those looking to obtain a vote-by-mail ballot, the deadline to make a request for the General Election is 5 p.m. Oct. 22.
Persons-Mulicka said the early voting period is an important part of the elections process.
“Voting early is a flexible and convenient way to vote in person,” she said. “It also ensures that you have the opportunity to vote in case something prevents you from being able to get out to the polls on Election Day.”
As for the security of all ballots cast and tallied by the office, Persons-Mulicka said, “Providing safe and secure elections is our top priority. Multiple layers of protection are in place to safeguard the integrity of the election process, including maintaining accurate voter rolls and implementing physical and network security measures. Whether voting by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day, you can trust that when you cast your ballot, your vote is protected and counted accurately.”
As for why people should exercise their right to vote, she said, “Every election is important and, in the upcoming midterm general election, voters will be deciding who represents them at the local, state, and federal levels. By voting, you hold your government representatives accountable and have your voice heard on any issues on the ballot.”
Lee County early voting sites include:
• Bonita Springs Elections Office, 25987 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 105, Bonita Springs
• Cape Coral Elections Office, 1039 SE 9th Ave., Cape Coral
• Cape Coral-Lee County Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral
• Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Center, 2990 Edison Ave., Fort Myers
• East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
• Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
• Fort Myers Regional Library — Voting Room, 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers
• Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
• Lee County Elections Center, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
• North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers
• Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral
• Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres
Race information for the General Election includes:
Cape Coral City Council
There are four council seats up for grabs in November. All races are at large and non-partisan meaning voters may cast a ballot no matter the district in which they live.
• Cape Coral Mayor: Lisa Cohen-Adkinson and Rick Erickson
• District 1: Dave Newton and Tom Shadrach
• District 4: Incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas
• District 6: Liza King and Annette Warren
More information on the Cape Coral City Council races, including candidate responses to Questions of the Week, may be found on The Breeze website under Election 2026.
Lee County Board of County Commissioners
There are two races on the ballot. The races are at large meaning voters may cast a ballot no matter the district in which they live.
• District 2: Incumbent Cecil Pendergrass (R) and Elliot Taylor (D)
• District 4: Incumbent Brian Hamman (R) and DeMaria “Princess” Artis (NPA)
Lee County School Board
There are two races on the General Election ballot. The two seats are by district meaning voters may cast a ballot only in the district in which they live.
The races are non-partisan.
• District 4: Incumbent Debbie Jordan and Tony Beougher
• District 5: Incumbent Armor Persons and Crystal Johnson
Incumbent Sam Fisher, District 1, won his seat outright in the primary as did Jada Langford-Fleming, who retained her seat in District 6, an at-large seat.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections
• Incumbent Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R) and Chris Vignieri (D)
United States Senator
• Ashley Moody (R); Angie Nixon (D); and Neil J. Gillespie (NPA)
District 19 Representative in Congress
• Jim Schwartzel (R) and Victor Arias (D)
Governor
• Byron Donalds (R); David Jolly (D); Scott Eckhard Jewett (LPF); Charles Burkett (NPA); Frank J. Russo (NPA); Moliere “Moe” Dimanche (NPA); Dean Ocean Abrams (NPA); and Jeffrey Peter “Dr. Jeff” Datto (NPA)
District 17 Representative in Congress
• Incumbent Greg Stube (R); Matthew Montavon (D); and Michael J. Quirk (NPA)
Commissioner of Agriculture
• Wilton Simpson (R) and Joey Mendoza Atkins (D)
Attorney General
• Incumbent James Uthmeier (R) and Jose Javier Rodriguez (D)
Chief Financial Officer
• Incumbent Blaise Ingoglia (R) and Annette Taddeo (D)
Lee County voters will decide two proposed charter questions related to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, in addition to three state referendum questions including the controversial homestead exemption increase from $50,000 to $250,000 for local property taxes — excluding school taxes.
At the county level, voters are being asked whether they want to change the county charter to change the at-large right of voters to vote for all county commissioners to single-member voting, which limits the vote to only the commissioner within their district.
The change was opposed by Lee County commissioners and championed by Lee County’s state legislative delegation.
The ballot language reads:
Referendum Providing for the Structure of the County Legislative Branch
Shall Chapter 2025-222, Laws of Florida, which amends the Lee County Home Rule Charter to provide that, beginning with the 2028 general election, the Board of County Commissioners shall be composed of five (5) members elected in single-member districts, become effective?
Voters may vote yes to approve or no to reject.
A second proposed county charter change would limit the number of consecutive terms for county constitutional officers, meaning elected county officials, to three consecutive four-year terms.
The ballot language reads:
County Charter Revision Relating to Setting the Number of Consecutive Terms of Elected Constitutional Officers
County Charter Amendment Section 3.1 “Elected County Constitutional Offices”; limiting the number of consecutive terms of the County Constitutional Officers; amendment would limit County Constitutional Officers to serving no more than three (3) consecutive four-year terms in office. No previous term in office which is in progress as of November 2026, shall be considered a term of service for purposes of the limitations contained herein.
Voters may vote yes to approve or no to reject.
For more information, visit lee.vote.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com