Some parts of the Treasure Coast saw lower voter turnout than the last two non-presidential primary elections.

Indian River County's turnout rate — the share of registered voters who cast ballots — was 11% lower in this year's Aug. 18 primary than in 2022, the last midterm election without presidential candidates on the ballot. Martin County's turnout rate fell 13% over the same period.

St. Lucie County was the only one of the three to see its turnout rate rise, growing 2.6% since 2022.

What is keeping voters away from the polls is hard to tell, said Martin County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Davis.

"It was lower than our historical trend," Davis told TCPalm. "I don't know why it's so low."

Indian River County Supervisor of Elections Leslie R. Swan was hoping for 33% turnout, she told TCPalm. The unofficial count as of Aug. 19 was nearly four percentage points off.

"It was a little discouraging," Swan said. "Local elections are what affects you on a day to day basis."

This year's unofficial voter turnout as of Aug. 19 is:

Indian River: 29% based on 34,295 ballots cast from 118,078 registered voters

Martin: 28.9% based on 33,458 ballots from 115,631 voters

St. Lucie: 24% based on 58,053 ballots from 241,760 voters

This year was a step down from 2022, but not an historic low. Every county was slightly above the median turnout for the last six non-presidential primaries. The real floor came in 2014, when turnout bottomed out in all three counties. Indian River sank below 17%, its worst showing of the past two decades.

Here is how this year's primary compared to the median turnout from 2006 to 2026:

The three counties also looked more alike than they have in 20 years. Just five percentage points separated the highest and lowest turnout this cycle — the narrowest gap of any primary since at least 2006. Indian River edged past Martin for the first time since 2010, though that reflects Martin's decrease in registered voters more than an Indian River surge.

Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
St. Lucie County Commission District 4 seat candidate Roger Messer campaigns outside the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
St. Lucie County Commission District 4 seat candidate Roger Messer campaigns outside the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
St. Lucie County Commission District 4 seat candidate Roger Messer campaigns outside the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
St. Lucie County Commission District 4 seat candidate Roger Messer campaigns outside the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Scenes from the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their ballots on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Candidate election signs are on display at the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their vote on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. Voters across the Treasure Coast cast their votes in local city, county and school board races. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Candidate election signs are on display at the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their vote on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. Voters across the Treasure Coast cast their votes in local city, county and school board races. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Candidate election signs are on display at the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their vote on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. Voters across the Treasure Coast cast their votes in local city, county and school board races. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Candidate election signs are on display at the Havert L. Fenn Center precinct as voters cast their vote on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Pierce. Voters across the Treasure Coast cast their votes in local city, county and school board races. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)

St. Lucie County's subtle increase may be because it had the fastest growing voter rolls of the three counties since 2006.

St. Lucie +68% (from 143,597 to 241,760)

Indian River +37% (from 86,301 to 118,078)

Martin +16% (from 99,314 to 115,631)

Martin went the other direction. It is the only one of the three counties whose rolls actually shrank since 2022, and its ballot count fell far faster than its voter list did. Martin has also fallen furthest from its own high-water mark, down more than seven points from the 2018 primary.

Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)
Incumbent Eula Clarke wins the Stuart City Commission Group 5 seat on primary election day, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Pelican Hotel. Clarke, 69, has been on the Stuart City Commission since 2011 and will serve another four years. She faced business owner Kylie Micciche, 21, and content producer Dayne Oldenborg, 31, who is a former insurance agent. (CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM)

Party registration shaped who actually showed up. Republicans and Democrats turned out at roughly a third of their registered numbers in each county.

Martin was also the only county three where Democrats turned out at a higher rate than Republicans, despite Republicans holding a better than 2-to-1 registration advantage there.

Voters registered with no party affiliation barely participated at all, making up about a quarter of the rolls in every Treasure Coast county and accounting for less than a tenth of the ballots cast. In Martin, fewer than 2,000 of nearly 29,000 unaffiliated voters cast a ballot.

Closed primaries are part of the explanation: Florida's rules bar those voters from most partisan contests. That means independent voters in Indian River could vote in only one race this year, the nonpartisan School Board District 2 race between Jacqueline Rosario and Tom Lange.

"Many people go out to vote and don't realize they were registered as nonparty and couldn't vote, so they get a little upset," Swan said. "Make sure you check your voter information so if you want to change your party, do that 29 days before the primary election." 

The results are in: Florida 2026 primary election results Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River

Elections: 2026 Florida primary election coverage across Treasure Coast

Statewide voter turnout for these off-year primaries has remained relatively stagnant, hovering around 25% in the last two cycles.

Treasure Coast elections supervisors predict a typical turnout for the Nov. 3 general election, which is about 65% of registered voters.

While the president is not on the ballot, voters will choose their next governor, and they will decide on major ballot initiatives. That includes Amendment 3, which could raise the homestead exemption and potentially clear the way for cutting all property taxes in Florida.

Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at [email protected], 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLemnus.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida primary election 2026 turnout down in Martin, Indian River