Municipal elections in Pasco County just got real. Candidate qualifying is officially closed, and races in Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey and the Town of Saint Leo are locked in for the April 14 municipal ballot. Voters inside those city limits will decide who calls the shots on zoning, neighborhood services and local policing. Now is the time for residents to confirm their registration and gather the right ID so they are not stuck with delays or a provisional ballot on Election Day.
Filing window closed and what is on the ballot
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley confirmed that the qualifying window slammed shut at noon on Feb. 17, 2026, cementing the municipal matchups, as reported by the Tampa Free Press. Only voters who live inside the relevant city boundaries will see these races on their ballots, which will be used across Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Saint Leo on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Deadlines and where to find candidate information
According to PascoVotes, April 14, 2026 is the scheduled municipal election date, and March 16 is the statewide book-closing deadline to register or update voter information. This year, municipal candidate qualifying ran from noon on Feb. 10 through noon on Feb. 17. The county’s candidate pages and the 2026 municipal list on PascoVotes feature bios and platform details for anyone doing their homework before heading to the polls.
ID rules and provisional ballots
Florida law requires voters to show both photo and signature identification in order to cast a regular in-person ballot. Acceptable IDs include a Florida driver’s license, U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military ID and student ID, among others. Voters who arrive without acceptable ID will be issued a provisional ballot and then have until 5 p.m. on the second day after the election to provide evidence of eligibility. The county canvassing board will decide whether those provisional ballots count, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Vote-by-mail and sample ballots
PascoVotes notes that sample ballots are usually posted 30 to 35 days before an election. Voters may request a vote-by-mail ballot through the Supervisor of Elections online request form or over the phone. The office also reminds residents that all prior vote-by-mail requests expired after the 2024 general election, so anyone who wants mail voting in 2026 will need to file a new request. Voters who have recently moved or changed their name are urged to update their registration online or by calling the Supervisor’s office at 800-851-8754 so they are not sorting out paperwork at the check-in table.
Local polling logistics
In Dade City, for example, the city clerk has coordinated with the Supervisor of Elections so that ballots are available at City Hall leading up to the vote, and Election Day precinct sites have been set for registered voters. The Hernando Sun reported that Dade City polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 14 and that the city has published a legal ad and proclamation detailing specific precinct locations.
With the lineups now set, Pasco voters have a few key chores: review candidate bios, circle the March 16 registration deadline and make sure they have acceptable photo and signature ID ready before walking into the polling place on April 14.
