Elections Alert

August 20, 2026

All eligible ballots canvassed and counted; official results submitted to the Florida Department of State; no recounts required

SANFORD, Fla. [August 20, 2026] — The Seminole County Canvassing Board completed its canvass of the August 18, 2026, Primary Election Thursday evening, certifying both the required unofficial returns and the Official Results for Seminole County. The results were submitted electronically to the Florida Department of State.

Under Florida law, county canvassing boards must submit official returns for a primary election to the Department of State no later than noon on the eighth day following the election – August 26, 2026, for this year’s Primary Election. Seminole County completed its canvass and submitted its official returns on August 20. See § 102.112(1), Fla. Stat.

The certification follows the completion of the Canvassing Board’s review of all ballots requiring additional consideration, including provisional ballots and Vote-by-Mail ballots with eligible signature cures. Florida Statutes §§ 101.048 and 101.68provide voters until 5 p.m. on the second day following an election — 5 p.m. today, August 20 — to provide required documentation supporting the eligibility of a provisional ballot or to cure an eligible signature deficiency on a provisional or Vote-by-Mail ballot.

With the cure deadline passed and the canvass complete, all ballots eligible to be counted in the 2026 Primary Election have been included in Seminole County’s Official Results.

No races in Seminole County require a recount. Under § 102.141(7), Fla. Stat., a recount is required when the unofficial returns show a candidate was defeated or eliminated by one-half of one percent or less of the votes cast for that office, subject to the exceptions provided by law.

What Happens Next

While Seminole County’s canvass is complete and its Official Results have been certified, Florida law requires additional post-election procedures.

Automated Independent Audit — August 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. 
The Seminole County Canvassing Board will conduct its publicly noticed Automated Independent Audit at the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office, 1500 E. Airport Blvd., Sanford. Florida law requires a post-election audit following certification of each election to independently verify the accuracy of the voting system and reported results. See § 101.591, Fla. Stat.

State Certification — August 27, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. 
Florida’s Elections Canvassing Commission will meet to certify the official returns for federal, state and multicounty offices. Under § 102.111, Fla. Stat., the Commission meets at 8 a.m. on the ninth day following a primary election.

From Election Night to Certification

Election Night Results – Preliminary, unofficial results reported after polls close.

Unofficial Returns – Updated results submitted during the canvassing process in accordance with Florida law.

Official Results- Final County results certified by the Canvassing Board after all eligible ballots have been canvassed and counted.

Seminole County’s Official Results are available at VoteSeminole.gov.

#VOTE#

Media Contact:
D’Anne Mica
407-739-1993
[email protected]