Local politics, explained
Elections, county budgets, zoning, and policy, covered for what they mean to residents and business owners. We report; we don't endorse candidates, parties, or ballot measures.
Election week: what to know
Florida's general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
- Bring identification. Florida asks voters to show ID at the polls. Check your county Supervisor of Elections' website for the list of accepted IDs before you go.
- Vote at your assigned precinct on Election Day. Your polling place can differ from the early-voting sites you may have used before.
- Mail ballots must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark isn't enough. Your county's elections office lists where you can drop off a completed mail ballot.
- Check your sample ballot so you know what's on it before you go.
To confirm your registration, find your polling place, or see your sample ballot, contact your county Supervisor of Elections in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, or visit the Florida Division of Elections at dos.fl.gov/elections.
How a county budget gets made
Florida counties run on a fiscal year that starts October 1. Each summer, the county's administration proposes a budget and a property tax rate. In August, property owners receive a notice showing the proposed taxes on their property.
In September, the county commission holds two public hearings before adopting the final budget and tax rate. Anyone can speak at these hearings. For business owners, the budget sets the fees, permits, and services that affect daily operations, so they're worth watching.
How zoning changes happen
When a developer or property owner wants to build something the current zoning doesn't allow, they apply for a rezoning or a variance. The request usually goes to the city or county planning staff, then to a planning board for a recommendation, and finally to the city or county commission for a vote.
Nearby property owners are typically notified, and each step includes a public hearing. If a project could change traffic, parking, or foot traffic near your home or business, the planning board meeting is the best time to weigh in.
Property taxes, the short version
If a Florida home is your permanent residence, you may qualify for a homestead exemption, which lowers the taxable value of your home and limits how much its assessed value can rise each year. You apply through your county property appraiser. Rental and investment properties don't qualify.
Our political advertising policy
- We accept political ads from candidates, parties, committees, and issue groups across the spectrum, at the same rates and on the same terms.
- Every political ad is labeled as a paid political advertisement and states who paid for it, as Florida law requires.
- Political ads appear only in clearly marked ad spaces, never inside our news or explainer coverage.
- Advertisers can choose to keep their ads off Politics pages.