Wesley Chapel families who want to vote by mail in the Aug. 18 school board primary must request a ballot by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley announced Monday, Aug. 3, that his office will not mail new ballots after that cutoff, according to the official media alert.
Voters can request a ballot at PascoVotes.gov/VBM_Request or by calling 800-851-8754.
What's on the school board ballot
The primary features 11 candidates competing for three Pasco County School Board seats in Districts 1, 3 and 5. The races are nonpartisan, so every registered voter in Pasco County can participate regardless of party.
District 1 is the only race that includes Wesley Chapel residents. Incumbent Al Hernandez, a health care executive who represented parts of Wesley Chapel and Land O'Lakes for four years, is not seeking reelection. Four candidates are vying for his open seat: Gino Collura, a business consultant from San Antonio endorsed by Superintendent John Legg; Kimberly Coward, an Air Force veteran and former Wesley Chapel High School guidance counselor; Christopher King, a Marine veteran and founder of anti-trafficking nonprofit The Gentlemen's Course; and Brian Perras, a Navy veteran and substitute teacher.
"One thing I've learned is that Wesley Chapel families are deeply invested in their schools," King told Neighborhood News in an Aug. 1 candidate profile. "The decisions we make today will shape what education looks like 10 years from now."
Key deadlines and voting details
Previous vote-by-mail requests expired after the 2024 general election. Voters who haven't submitted a new request for 2026 will not receive a ballot automatically. As of mid-July, the elections office had mailed more than 37,000 ballots countywide. Voter registration for this primary closed July 20.
All completed ballots must arrive at the Supervisor of Elections' office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 18. Voted ballots cannot be turned in at polling places.
Voters who miss the Thursday mail-request deadline still have options. Early voting runs Saturday, Aug. 8, through Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Wesley Chapel has two confirmed sites: New River Library at 34043 State Road 54 and Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus at 3021 Sports Coast Way. Voters may use any of the 12 countywide early voting locations.
A candidate must clear 50% to win outright on Aug. 18. If no one reaches that threshold, the top two advance to the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.
Why the timing matters for Wesley Chapel families
Pasco County's first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 13, five days before the primary. Whoever wins these three seats will help set policy on enrollment growth, teacher pay and curriculum as the new school year begins. Pasco's primary turnout has been low in recent cycles, according to Neighborhood News reporting.
Voters can track their ballot status at PascoVotes.ballottrax.net/voter/.
