Voting locations changed in several Florida counties due to flash flooding

Some voters are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to extend the time to vote past tonight’s 7 p.m. deadline due to the flash flooding over Florida over past couple of days, which in some cases is making it difficult for voters to leave their homes.

Voters in seven counties were being directed to temporary polling locations in the face of widespread flooding that prompted the governor to issue an emergency order Monday allowing election officials to move voting sites ahead of Election Day.

Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida, said in a remote conference call Tuesday morning that “we have voters who now can’t reach their polling locations because of flooding.”

“We are helping those voters to find their temporary polling locations to identify a voting solution that can work for them,” she said, adding, “And if it comes to it, then we’ll also push to expand voting hours if we have to.”

Flash flood warnings went into effect Monday in portions of Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. Flood warnings remained in effect until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Brevard, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties, according to the National Weather Service.

The Florida Division of Elections has listed new polling locations in most of those counties as well as precincts in Palm Beach and Okeechobee counties. WPLG in Miami has reported a change in one voting precinct in Broward County due to flooding.

After Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd wrote on social media Monday night that his agency had provided an updated list of polling locations in counties affected, several individuals responded by calling on DeSantis to extend the time to vote.

“If the process of counting can continue for many days after an election then counties’ polling locations affected should give a 24 hour extension to go out and vote even if they relocated the poll,” wrote an individual named Angie G on X. “No one wants to put themselves in danger when they can’t even leave their homes because of flood[s].”

Common Cause was working with voters who have encountered delays due to problems with voting check-in machines in Broward County, Keith said. “We’re following those issues very closely and will do whatever is needed to help ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot.”

Common Cause Florida runs the “Florida Command Center,” which serves as a “nerve center” for rapid response to voting problems across the state and has trained nearly 1,500 poll monitors and legal observers.