Polls open in Escambia County

Voters in Escambia County cast their ballots Tuesday as polls opened at 7 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m.

Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender issued a series of directives to guide residents through the process. He specified that anyone standing in line by the 7 p.m. deadline will be permitted to vote. Bender emphasized that voters must mark both the front and back of their ballots and ensure they make only one selection per contest.

Identification requirements remain strict for the general election. All voters must present one of 12 approved forms of photo ID or provide signature identification. Those who fail to show valid ID may vote a provisional ballot. Bender noted that the registration deadline has passed, meaning new registrations cannot be made at the polls on Election Day.

Several voting sites have shifted locations for the 2026 cycle. Precinct 14, usually held at the Fricker Resource Center, moved to the Pensacola Main Library at 239 North Spring Street. Precinct 35 relocated from the East Pensacola Heights Community Center to Heights Baptist Church at 600 Pickens Avenue. Precinct 70 moved from Burgess Road Baptist Church to The Gathering Place at Pensacola Christian College on 115 St. John Street.

Other precincts reflect changes made during the 2025 special election. Precinct 22 is now permanently housed at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard. Precinct 24 moved from Warrington Church to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 401 Live Oak Avenue. Precinct 31 returned to its permanent home at Christ Church Pensacola on 18 West Wright Street after two years at the Pensacola Main Library.

Voters using Vote-by-Mail ballots could not return completed forms to their precincts on Tuesday. Those envelopes had to go to the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. Early voting concluded on Saturday, October 31. Residents who requested mail ballots but did not return them could vote in person, though Bender recommended bringing the unvoted package to cancel it.

Results began appearing on local social media channels after polls closed. The office provided a direct line at (850) 595-3900 and an email at soe@escambiavotes.gov for status checks and additional questions.