DeSantis signs executive order on voting in Helene-affected counties

In response to a request for flexibility in storm-damaged areas, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Thursday allowing election changes in 10 counties trying to rebuild from Hurricane Helene.

DeSantis’ order allows election supervisors in heavily damaged areas to make changes to early voting sites and create consolidated voting centers where people can cast ballots. The order also loosens restrictions on absentee ballot requests and allows state employees to take paid administrative leave to serve as election workers on Election Day. The governor’s decision came as regulators across the state were mailing ballots to voters for the Nov. 5 election.

DeSantis announced the order during a media appearance in Anna Maria, one of the Gulf Coast communities where a powerful storm caused widespread flooding. The order will allow election supervisors to make changes in Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Taylor counties.

Thursday’s order will not impact “efforts to ensure voter safety,” DeSantis said.

“None of them will be abolished. “But if a polling place was destroyed, you can set up another location, provide appropriate notice and follow all other state laws, but that will ensure that residents impacted by this storm and perhaps displaced can still vote in the November election,” he told reporters.

Florida Supervisors of Elections Executive Director David Ramba on Tuesday asked Secretary of State Cord Byrd for flexibility in counties where election infrastructure has been damaged.

“Hurricane Helene displaced countless voters and election workers from their homes in many affected counties,” Ramba wrote.

Supervisors “appreciate the quick response by Secretary Byrd and Governor DeSantis to address the issues we face as a result of this devastating storm and hope this will ensure a smooth voting experience for Floridians affected by Hurricane Helene,” Ramba said in a text message on Thursday .

Under state law, supervisors are prohibited from moving polling places to other locations less than 30 days before an election. Thursday’s order allows supervisors in 10 counties “at their discretion to relocate or consolidate any polling place if the supervisor determines that the continuing impacts of Hurricane Helene warrant it.”

Supervisors will also be able to designate new locations for postal voting boxes. Election officials in affected areas will also be able to mail ballots to voters’ temporary addresses, as they would for military or overseas voters. Absentee ballots can also be sent to other voter addresses in the 10 counties.

DeSantis’ order also allows supervisors in affected counties to coordinate with election officials outside affected areas “to ensure voting opportunities are available to those impacted by Hurricane Helene.” These efforts also aim to ensure that people who have evacuated and cannot return home – including those in nursing homes or hospitals – receive absentee ballots or are able to vote on Election Day.

This isn’t the first time the state has granted election officials flexibility after a storm.

Local elections officials were able to combine polling places after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida in September 2022 and Hurricane Michael hit Northwest Florida in October 2018.

The state also allowed eight counties that suffered damage in Michael to set up temporary polling places and early voting sites and to send ballots to other counties for tabulation. Some counties, such as Bay, created “mega” locations that were open to all voters, regardless of their address, to enable early and Election Day voting.