DeSantis Declares Emergency After Floods Threaten Florida Vote
Seven counties face mandatory polling place changes if roads remain blocked, with Brevard officials scrambling to secure alternative sites before Tuesday.
By Beatriz Bailey ·
Heavy rains have struck central Florida's eastern coast, forcing state officials to act quickly to protect Tuesday's election.
Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Monday afternoon declaring a state of emergency in seven counties: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie. The order empowers local supervisors of elections to designate new voting locations for sites that are unsafe or inaccessible due to flooded roads.
State law mandates that when a state of emergency is declared, election officials must identify a new, accessible polling place and post notices at the original location to inform voters of the change. Gretl Plessinger, the director of communications for the Department of State, confirmed via email that the Division of Elections is contacting impacted counties and will act according to state requirements.
Brevard County has felt the immediate impact, canceling school for Monday and Tuesday and closing several roads as water inundated the area. Tim Bobanic, the Brevard Supervisor of Elections, told the News Service of Florida that his office is working with emergency management teams to evaluate site accessibility. Bobanic noted that while a majority of his polling places are set up and ready, he is still in discussions with city and town managers to determine if replacements are needed.
Some Brevard election offices in Titusville, Melbourne, and Palm Bay were closed on Monday due to weather conditions, though the Viera site remained open. A canvassing board meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon was also canceled. Bobanic expressed hope that waters would recede by Tuesday but emphasized the need for contingency plans.
Florida has managed storm-related election disruptions previously. In 2018, Governor Rick Scott ordered alternative polling sites after Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle. However, that storm made landfall on October 10, providing residents more time to learn about new locations. The current weather event has arrived with less advance warning, creating a tighter timeline for officials to notify voters.
Bobanic said the department will communicate changes as effectively as possible. Voters in affected areas can check the Brevard elections website for the latest status on polling place locations.
Source: NBC 6 South Florida
