Heavy Florida rains, flooding could affect Election Day polling places

Torrential rain along Florida’s central eastern coastline and in some inland counties has flooded roads and led to the shutdown of schools in some counties, and election officials are attempting to find alternative polling places in affected areas. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday afternoon issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties. Included in the order is a provision allowing local supervisors of elections in affected areas to designate new polling places for sites that are unsafe or where voters can’t get to them because the roads are blocked due to flooding. State law requires election officials to “designate a new polling place which shall be accessible to the public on election day” when under a state of emergency, and post notice at the old polling place telling voters about the alternative precinct. “The Division of Elections is in contact with the counties impacted and will re