Florida has just experienced the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Helene and now has to prepare for the onslaught of the even more powerful Hurricane Milton. This is expected to bring more disruptions to the state, especially impacting the way voters can cast their ballots.
According to the report by the Associated Press on Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order granting greater flexibility to the counties most affected by Hurricane Helene, allowing for the distribution of mail-in ballots and changing the location of polling stations. It is anticipated that after Hurricane Milton, further adjustments may be necessary in the voting procedures.
Florida has long been hit by hurricanes, leading to adjustments in the way elections are conducted from time to time. This year, some voter rights organizations have been advocating for judges to reopen Florida’s voter registration deadline to provide opportunities for those who might have missed the deadline due to hurricane disruptions.
On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in northern Florida, and on the same day, local election officials began sending mail-in ballots to voters who requested them.
The hurricane forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, with some houses already destroyed and uninhabitable. These voters would not be able to receive their mail-in ballots at home anymore. The number of such affected voters is expected to increase after Hurricane Milton.
David Becker, the Executive Director of The Center for Election Innovation and Research, mentioned that mail-in ballots could be lost, either failing to reach the voters or getting returned. He also pointed out the possibility of mail-in ballots getting damaged, especially in severe weather conditions.
Thus, voters have the options to request for reissuing mail-in ballots or physically go to polling stations to cast their votes.
Hurricane Helene damaged voting infrastructure in at least 13 counties, including polling stations, primarily in the northwest and peninsula border areas of Florida. Travis Hart, the chairman of the Florida Election Supervisors Association, noted that dozens of polling stations in Pinellas County near Tampa were damaged, making them vulnerable to another hit by Hurricane Milton.
DeSantis’ executive order gives election officials in these 13 heavily impacted counties more flexibility to adjust election procedures due to Hurricane Helene.
The order allows for early voting and changes or consolidations of voting locations on Election Day. This enables voters to easily request to have their mail-in ballots delivered to a different address than the one they were registered with. The order also permits the use of forwarding envelopes for mailing ballots to ensure they reach voters at their new locations.
The executive order also waives the training requirements for experienced poll workers and allows for the recruitment of poll workers from other counties to prevent potential staffing shortages.
Hart mentioned, “Our poll workers are very dedicated, and I know if there is a mention of an election, they’re there unless there’s an uncontrollable issue.”
Becker emphasized that making only essential election changes is beneficial to reduce voter confusion. He stated, “When voters want to vote, and all indications suggest that they truly want to, they will find a way.”
Monday, October 7, was the voter registration deadline in Florida.
On Wednesday, federal judges were set to hear arguments in a lawsuit seeking to reopen voter registration. The lawsuit, filed by the League of Women Voters and the NAACP Florida State Conference, argues that thousands of people might have missed the registration deadline due to dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene or preparing for evacuation from Hurricane Milton’s path.
Cecile Scoo, co-chair of the League of Women Voters in Florida, likened the readiness for voting to Christmas shopping. “You often wait until the last two to three weeks to buy gifts. Voting is the same way. Interest piques as the deadline nears.”
The Florida Election Supervisors Association did not request an extension of the voter registration deadline. Hart stated that people had ample time to register.
Becker noted that there was not much evidence suggesting that extending the voter registration deadline would enhance voter participation. He argued that reopening the registration day, even if reasonable, could fuel allegations or false claims from losing candidates about the election.
This is not the first time Florida has had to adjust election plans in counties hit by hurricanes.
In August 2004, after Hurricane Charley struck southwest Florida, then-Governor Jeb Bush allowed election officials in 10 counties to delay early voting and set up new polling stations, extending the deadline to hire poll workers before the primary.
In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit the entire Atlantic coast of Florida, leading to many government offices closing just days before the voter registration deadline for the presidential election. Democrats sued Republican Governor Rick Scott to extend the registration deadline, which was initially refused but was later ordered by a federal judge to be extended by a day.
In October 2018, Scott authorized adjustments in Gulf and Bay County after Hurricane Michael struck, allowing supervisors to forward mail-in ballots to temporary addresses and relocate or consolidate polling stations.