It may be a year away, but the push toward the 2026 Election has already begun, with candidates lining up to run for offices, in cities, the county, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
With that process comes information and education, and election officials at the national and local levels are joining the effort to help Osceola County voters "participate in democracy with confidence," this election cycle.
National Voter Education Week is a campaign to equip communities with all of the information they need to be informed, confident, and prepared voters. It runs this week, from Oct. 6-10, and the aims this year are to help communities make their voices heard by helping voters register and make a plan to vote, and build transparency and trust in the electoral process.
In Hispanic-heavy Osceola County, it is of vital importance for the upcoming election, as many voters who come from places like Puerto Rico are used to voting once every four years and aren't conditioned to vote in "off cycle" elections like 2026 would be. Their presence would help increase voter turnout.
National Voter Education Week helps voters bridge the gap between registering to vote and actually casting a ballot. During this week the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office will be out and about providing interactive education about voting in person or by mail.
Meet up with the Osceola SOE staff at these locations during National Voter Education Week:
Monday: Tohopekaliga High School, voter registration 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tuesday: National Night Out at the St. Cloud Lakefront, 4-7 p.m.
Wednesday: Osceola Council on Aging Fall Expo, 9 a.m.-noon
Thursday: St. Cloud Veterans Library Branch, 9-11 a.m.
Follow the SOE office in social media, on Facebook at @OsceolaCountySOE, X (Twitter) @VoteOsceola, or Instagram @OsceolaCountySOE to stay up to date during National Voter Education Week
