Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order 24-263, setting the dates for a special election in Florida's 6th Congressional District. This district includes Flagler and Putnam Counties, along with parts of Lake, Marion, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties. The Special Primary Election is scheduled for January 28, 2025, followed by the Special General Election on April 1, 2025.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd stated that "at Governor Ron DeSantis’ direction, this Special Election is being conducted as quickly as statutorily possible." He emphasized the commitment to holding the election at the earliest date allowed by state law.
Special elections are regulated by federal and state laws which specify dates and deadlines for local election officials. These laws include minimum periods for qualifying candidates, primaries, mail-in voting, early voting, and general elections. The timeline for conducting a special election aligns with that of general elections according to § 100.191 of Florida Statutes.
The timeline begins with the issuance of Executive Order 24-263 on November 25, 2024. Key dates include a qualifying period from December 6-7, vote-by-mail ballots sent to absent military personnel and overseas civilians starting December 14 and domestic voters beginning December 19. Early voting will occur from January 18-25 ahead of the Special Primary Election Day on January 28.
Following certification of primary results by February 11, vote-by-mail ballots will again be distributed starting February 15 for overseas voters and February 20 domestically. Early voting for the General Election is set from March 22-29 before voters head to polls on April 1.
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections plays a key role in supporting fair and accurate elections across Florida through its three bureaus: Bureau of Election Records; Bureau of Voter Registration Services; and Bureau of Voting Systems Certification.
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