Floods and Tornado Force Polling Place Changes in Florida and Oklahoma on Election Day
Severe weather forced election officials in several states to move polling places or change voting rules on Election Day, led by Florida, where flooding shifted voting sites in seven counties.
At least 18 polling places were moved in Brevard, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties after flash flooding Monday and into Tuesday morning, NBC News reported.
Some parts of Florida’s Atlantic coast saw as much as 22 inches of rain in 24 hours. Roads in several areas were impassable, and a flood watch remained in effect in parts of the state Tuesday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 26-227 on Monday, declaring a state of emergency in several counties, Fox News reported. The order lets election supervisors ask the secretary of state for approval to use other voting arrangements.
The rain began Oct. 31 and continued through Nov. 2, triggering flash flood warnings and threatening roads, schools and other infrastructure, according to the order.
“For the safety and security of our election workers and the voters of Brevard, it is necessary to relocate a couple of precinct polling locations due to these unprecedented circumstances,” Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic said.
Palm Beach County moved two polling places and said affected voters were notified by email and text where it had their contact information, Florida Today reported.
Florida voters must cast ballots at their assigned precinct on Election Day. The state has posted the temporary sites on its emergency election resources page and warned that the list could change.
Polls in Florida are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Anyone in line when polls close may still vote.
Storms hit voting in other states
In Oklahoma, a tornado with peak winds of about 100 mph damaged the Keyes Community Center in Cimarron County on Sunday. County officials moved that polling place, saying the building had “considerable structural damage.”
In Utah, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson declared a state of emergency after flooding in the Four Corners region. Voters in San Juan County who are cut off by floodwaters may request and return ballots electronically.
Colorado is allowing a similar option for voters in La Plata and Archuleta counties, NBC reported. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs issued a statewide emergency declaration Monday after record rain.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, two of 254 voting centers closed briefly Monday because of power problems. Officials said both have reopened.
Research has linked heavy rain to slightly lower turnout. Florida State University’s Brad Gomez said turnout fell about eight-tenths of a point for each inch of rain above a county’s average in elections from 1948 to 2000.
Experts told NBC that the effect has shrunk as more people vote early or by mail, and that it is hard to predict whether this week’s weather will change any race.
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