News Collaborative of Central Florida Releases First-Ever Voter Guide Ahead of 2026 Primary Election 

Oviedo Community News launched its 2026 voter guide as part of the News Collaborative of Central Florida (NCCF), a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. Created in partnership with Central Florida Public Media, WKMG-News 6, the Orlando Sentinel, Winter Park Voice, VoxPopuli of West Orange, and the Osceola News-Gazette, the voter guide provides a nonpartisan overview of where candidates running for federal, state, county, and judicial offices stand on a variety of issues important to Central Florida voters.  

By working together, the seven local news organizations were able to expand election coverage beyond what any one newsroom could accomplish independently. Through a shared candidate questionnaire and coordinated reporting effort, NCCF members were able to cover more races across Central Florida, giving voters greater access to reliable, nonpartisan information before casting their ballots. 

“Oviedo Community News has prioritized creating an independent, nonpartisan voter guide since we launched in 2021 because before our newsroom existed, information on local candidates was hard to find, or sometimes impossible. We’ve always taken that a step further and pressed candidates on what our readers say matters most to them,” said Megan Stokes, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Oviedo Community News. “Our guide is still hyperlocal but partnering with other local news outlets that share our values makes sure that many more readers can find that critical information.” 

Candidates were invited to respond to a standardized questionnaire developed in collaboration by the seven NCCF newsrooms. If a candidate did not respond, that is noted in the guide and, when possible, publicly available information from campaign websites or social media is included.  

The voter guide is the latest initiative from NCCF, which was established following the 2024 Central Florida Journalism Ecosystem Summit. In 2025, NCCF members jointly reported on the local impacts of Florida’s Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping law, producing more than 100 stories. Earlier this year, NCCF announced its new editorial focus would be the 2026 mid-term elections.  

Readers can access the 2026 voter guide here.  

About Oviedo Community News

Oviedo Community News is an independent, nonprofit newsroom serving Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs with public-service, local news that focuses on what people say matter most to them. Our founders believe deeply that local news is the antidote to often polarizing and divisive national media chains, helping neighbors connect with one another and feel more empowered to control what happens in the world surrounding them. 

About News Collaborative of Central Florida 

News Collaborative of Central Florida is a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. It grew out of the Central Florida Journalism Ecosystem Summit, created in 2024 by Central Florida Public Media, Central Florida Foundation and Oviedo Community News. Confirmed participants in NCCF’s 2026 collaborative election coverage include Central Florida Public Media, LkldNow, Ocala Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, Osceola News Gazette, Oviedo Community News, VoxPopuli, Winter Park Voice and WKMG News 6. 

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