Florida floods move 21 voting sites

Flooding in eight Florida counties forced the closure and relocation of at least 21 polling places on Tuesday. The disruptions occurred as the state prepared to count ballots for the 2026 general election. The Florida Division of Elections confirmed the moves were necessary to keep voting sites accessible despite severe weather.

The state has seen heavy rains in recent days. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for seven counties on Monday at 12:30 p.m. The order covers Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. Under the emergency order, local election supervisors must notify the Florida Department of State if they take partial or substitute measures for Election Day voting.

Voter turnout figures released by the University of Florida Election Lab indicate high participation before Tuesday. Approximately 40 percent of the 13.7 million registered voters in Florida had already cast their ballots. This total includes nearly 3.47 million in-person early votes and about 1.99 million mail-in votes.

The early voting data shows a shift in partisan participation compared to previous cycles. About 40.2 percent of registered Republicans and 37.8 percent of registered Democrats voted early. In 2024, Republicans held a lead of more than 1 million votes before Election Day. The current early lead for Republicans is smaller than the margin seen in the 2022 and 2024 elections.

Political leaders on both sides commented on the early numbers. Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried stated that Democrats are showing up at rates not seen in years. She told supporters in an emailed fundraising pitch on Monday that she believes the party can take back Florida if they maintain that energy on Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate for governor, predicted a surge of Republican voters on election day during a podcast appearance.

Specific precincts across the state moved to new addresses to accommodate voters. In Brevard County, several precincts in Melbourne and Palm Bay moved to community centers and church facilities. In St. Lucie County, multiple precincts in Port St. Lucie relocated to the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center and other public buildings. The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections office said it would remain open in Viera for mail ballot drop-offs.

Tim Bobanic, the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections, said the relocations were necessary for the safety of election workers and voters. He noted that the circumstances were unprecedented. U.S. Rep. Brian Mast advised residents to check their county websites before leaving their homes. Officials warned that voting locations in affected counties could change again if weather conditions worsen throughout the day.