DeSantis Declares State of Emergency as Flooding Threatens Florida Polling Places on Election Day
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Monday after torrential rain flooded parts of the state and threatened polling places just hours before Election Day.
The order covers Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties, where heavy rain swamped roads, closed schools and forced election officials to line up backup voting sites.
The declaration gives local supervisors of elections more flexibility to move polling places that become unsafe or impossible to reach.
The flooding created an unusual last-minute complication for officials preparing for one of the most consequential voting days of the cycle.
What Happens if a Polling Place Floods
Under Florida law, when an emergency keeps voters from reaching their normal precinct, election officials must set up an accessible replacement location and post notices at the original site directing voters there.
That matters more on Election Day than during early voting, because Floridians voting Tuesday generally must go to their assigned precinct.
"The Division of Elections is in contact with the counties impacted and will respond pursuant to state law, as necessary," said Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Elections.
Brevard Pushes Ahead
Brevard County was among the hardest-hit areas. Flooding closed schools Monday and Tuesday and shut several roads. Election offices in Titusville, Melbourne and Palm Bay were closed Monday, while the Viera office stayed open, and a canvassing board meeting was canceled.
Still, Brevard Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic said the vote would go on. "Yes, we are conducting an election tomorrow," he told the News Service of Florida on Monday.
Bobanic said most polling places were ready and officials were evaluating backups for any that might become inaccessible, working with city governments and emergency managers. "We will get the word out the best we can," he said of any last-minute changes.
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Officials were working to notify voters quickly if flooding forced any more locations to move.
Florida polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. local time, and anyone in line at closing time can still vote.
More Rain in the Forecast
South Florida faced more showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, though the rain was expected to be less widespread than Monday's. Forecasters warned of possible flash flooding in Broward and northern Miami-Dade counties because the ground was already saturated.
A coastal flood advisory remained in effect through Tuesday evening, along with dangerous rip currents along Atlantic beaches.
The state has dealt with weather-related voting disruptions before. In 2018, then-Gov. Rick Scott authorized alternative polling sites after Hurricane Michael devastated parts of the Panhandle. This time, the timeline is tighter because the worst flooding hit the day before the vote.
The disruption comes as Floridians decide major statewide races, including contests for governor and U.S. Senate. Early Election Day turnout figures posted online showed Republicans well ahead of Democrats in the opening hours.
The emergency declaration is meant to give election administrators extra authority to keep voting accessible as conditions change by the hour.
State officials said they would keep monitoring the affected counties and respond as needed throughout the day.