Different Elections You’ll Come Across as A Registered Voter In Okaloosa County

When we think of voting, we often envision Presidential Elections, but this election is just one of several you should vote in if you’d like your voice heard. As a registered voter in Florida, you’re eligible to vote in a variety of different elections, including Primaries, General, and Presidential elections. In this article we’re going to talk about the different elections available to you as a voter, how they differ, and why each one is just as important as voting for our next president.

Primaries

Primary elections are specific to your state and county. In Florida, our primary elections take place on August 20th, 2024. These elections decide who will appear on the general election ballot in November. For example, this election cycle Democrats in Okaloosa County will vote for one of four candidates for U.S. Senate. These candidates are Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Brian Rush, and Stanley Campbell.

Some states, like Florida, are Closed Primary states, meaning only voters who are registered as Democrats can vote for Democratic candidates for Congress or US Senate. The same is true for registered Republicans voting for Republican candidates. Independent or non-affiliated voters are not eligible to vote for certain party-specific races, like choosing a Democratic or Republican member of Congress or Senate. Some positions however, like Sheriff, School Board, and County Commissioner do not have a Democrat running, so regardless of party affiliation registered voters can cast their votes in these races.

Here in Okaloosa County our primaries will include voting for candidates like our next Sheriff, Board of County Commissioners District 1, Board of County Commissioners District 3, Board of County Commissioners District 5, and School Board Member District 2. There are not any Democrats running for these positions, but we do have a list of recommendations for Democrats interested in learning more about these Republican candidates before making their vote. You can find our recommendations here. You can also view a Primary sample ballot here.

General

General elections are the ones most of us think about when we think of voting because they coincide with our Presidential election, but these elections are used for voting for candidates at federal, state, and local levels, like U.S. Senate and Congress. In Okaloosa County we are in Florida Congressional District 1 and our current congressman is Matt Gaetz. This General election cycle we have an opportunity to elect a new member of congress and new senators. Democrat Gay Valimont is running for Congress here in District 1 and will face off in the General election against whichever Republican wins their Primary.

The decisions we make at the Primaries will be reflected in who we vote for in the General election, which is why it is so important that we don’t skip voting in our Primaries! All our votes, including any electoral votes, count towards electing representatives who will act in the best interests of Floridians. So, don’t skip voting in any election!

One of our general elections you’ve probably heard about is Midterms. These are elections that take place near the midpoint of a presidential term. It is during Midterms that certain offices come up for election. These positions include all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, and 33-34 Senate seats. Additionally, many states, including Florida, vote for governor during Midterm election cycles. Our next gubernatorial election will take place during the 2026 Midterms and will decide the next governor of Florida.

Presidential

Every four years on the first Tuesday of November, registered voters across the United States head to the polls to vote for our next president. This election is an indirect election, meaning our votes count towards members of the Electoral College, known as “electors.” This year in Florida we have 30 electoral votes up for grabs. To win a presidential election, a candidate must receive the majority of these electoral votes; at least 270 of the available 538. As such, a candidate could win the popular vote, meaning one person equals one vote, and still lose the Electoral College vote if they don’t receive enough electoral votes. This is another reason all our votes and showing up to vote matters.

If you live in Florida and plan on voting in the presidential election, you must be registered to vote by no later than October 7th, 2024 by 5pm. You can check your registration status and register to vote in the General and Presidential election by visiting RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or by visiting our Supervisor of Elections office. You can also visit your local DMV to register to vote or make changes to your registration.

Whether you’re a seasoned voter or you’re new to being an active member of our Democracy, showing up to vote in every election is how we make our voices heard and create change. The choices we make at the local level directly impact choices made at the state and federal level, so here at Okaloosa Democrats we encourage you to show up to vote in our Primary election, which takes place August 20th, 2024.

Early voting for our Primaries here in Okaloosa County runs from August 10th until August 17th, 2024 from 10am to 6pm at five locations. Voting early is ideal as it makes sure every voter can cast their vote at a time and location that works for them. If you’d like to learn more about the voting process, visit the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections website to read about local elections and volunteer opportunities.

You can also drop by Northwest Florida State College every Monday to register to vote or stop into our new office in Fort Walton Beach, Monday through Friday 8-5 to register and learn more about volunteering. Our office is in Beachworx at 105 Lewis St Suite 103, Ft Walton Beach, FL 32547. We look forward to meeting you and working with you to protect and preserve our Democracy here in Okaloosa County and beyond.