Pinellas voters: Aug. 18 primary dates for St. Petersburg mayor & City Council

St. Petersburg voters: Pinellas’ Aug. 18 primary decides mayor and City Council races. Here are the key deadlines for registration, early voting, and vote-by-mail so you don’t miss your chance to vote.

What’s on the Aug. 18 ballot for St. Petersburg

Pinellas’ election calendar lists the Aug. 18, 2026 Primary Election as the date for St. Petersburg’s mayor race and City Council district races.

City Council is district-based, meaning your ballot depends on where you live. If you’re unsure which contests you can vote in, check Pinellas’ voter/precinct tools or your sample ballot.

July 20 (the big deadline): register—and update party affiliation for closed-primary rules

If you’re not registered (or need to update your party affiliation for Florida’s closed primary system), Monday, July 20, 2026 is the cutoff before the Aug. 18 primary. Pinellas’ primary election page lists July 20 as the voter registration deadline.

Florida’s Department of State also reiterates that Florida is a closed primary, so party-nominated primary voting is limited to voters registered with the relevant party.

Early voting: Aug. 8–16

For residents who can’t make it to their assigned polling place on Election Day, Pinellas offers early voting from Aug. 8 through Aug. 16. Pinellas directs voters to its early voting information for hours and locations.

Vote-by-mail essentials: request by Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.

If you want a vote-by-mail ballot, Pinellas sets a clear deadline: request a mail ballot by Aug. 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Pinellas also notes that domestic vote-by-mail ballots begin mailing starting July 14, 2026. Because mail delivery and ballot processing can vary, the safest approach is to plan early rather than waiting until the deadline week.

Election Day: Aug. 18 (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

If you’re voting in person on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, Pinellas lists election-day hours as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Use Pinellas’ tools to confirm your polling place.

Why the primary matters for St. Petersburg mayor and City Council

This Aug. 18 primary isn’t only about a single “final winner” for every voter. In the case of nonpartisan contests covered under the primary structure, Pinellas explains that if no candidate wins a majority, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.

Next steps checklist (by date)

• By July 20, 2026: register or update party affiliation ahead of Florida’s closed-primary rules.
• By Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.: request a vote-by-mail ballot (if you want one mailed to you).
• Aug. 8–16: vote early (hours and locations vary).
• Aug. 18 (7 a.m.–7 p.m.): vote on Election Day if you’re not voting early or by mail.

Sources

• Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections — Aug. 18, 2026 Primary Election information
• Florida Department of State (Cord Byrd) — Reminder about July 20 registration deadline and closed-primary requirement
• Axios Tampa Bay — St. Petersburg City Council elections: who’s running and what’s at stake