Florida election supervisors affected by Hurricane Milton want new voting changes

A banner advertising voting hangs outside the Leon County Courthouse on Aug. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)Supervisors of elections beset by damaged roads, communication networks, and public buildings post-Hurricane Milton are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign a new executive order allowing them to ease voting procedures for the General Election next month.

The request came less than two weeks after DeSantis signed an executive order allowing supervisors in specified counties to make voting changes based on the devastation that came from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Sept. 29.

That storm caused extensive damage in Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Taylor counties. Hurricane Milton did the same in Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota counties — plus additional damage in in central and eastern Florida, including Collier, Glades, Highlands, Indian River, Orange, and St. Lucie.

Supervisors cited “excessive rain or tornadic activity” and said “such counties may need to be included in certain provisions of any Executive Order issued to ensure that there are no interruptions resulting from these impacts,” according to a letter signed by David Ramba, executive director of the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE).

The letter says that polling locations have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible due to flooding and structural damage. The supervisors claim that power outages and disrupted communication lines hinder them from coordinating preparations and informing voters about changes to polling locations or procedures.

The letter goes on to say that “a significant number of residents have been displaced from their homes, staying in temporary shelters or with relatives in other areas. These voters may lack access to traditional voting methods or information about alternative options.”

DeSantis’ executive order after Hurricane Helene suspended a statute prohibiting supervisors from moving a voting location or designated ballot “intake station” (also known as a drop box) to another site less than 30 days before the election; waived the requirement that poll workers can only be hired if they are registered voters in the same county in which they will work; and allowed voters to send mail ballots somewhere other than the home address they had on file.

DeSantis declined to respond to calls from voting and civil rights groups to extend the voter registration deadline, which fell Oct.7.

What they want

The supervisors of elections are asking for these changes:

An extension of the deadline to designate and provide notice of drop boxes and early voting sites from 30 days to 10 days before an election.

An extension of the deadline to move or consolidate polling locations from 30 days before an election to 10 days. They also want a waiver of the requirement to move or consolidate polling places to a contiguous location. “Many of the Hurricane Milton Affected Counties lost polling place locations in large areas and do not have options for relocation or consolidation in areas that will satisfy the contiguous location requirement.”

That early voting be extended through election day at the main and branch offices of the supervisors for Pinellas and Taylor counties. The law says the last day of early voting must take place on Sunday, Nov. 3. This would extend early voting to Monday, Nov. 4.

A waiver or modification of requirements to provide a signed, written request to send a vote-by-mail ballot to an address other than the registered address on file.

Accommodations for first responders, linemen, and relief workers aiding recovery efforts in hurricane-affected counties within or outside of Florida. Because of parts of the state now lack power or reliable internet, cell or telephone service, or mail delivery, a relief worker could designate a family member to call the supervisor of elections to request a vote-by-mail ballot on their behalf.

Suspension of the requirement for voters to complete an emergency affidavit to request a vote-by-mail ballot during early voting to simplify the process and enable more voters to participate in the election through mail ballots, which is particularly important for those unable to reach polling sites.

Flexibility in the existing two-day requirement for mailing ballots after receiving a request for Hurricane Milton-affected counties.

Extension of the deadline for supervisors to appoint poll workers from 20 days before the election to 10 days before the election.

Disrupted training

Many of the Hurricane Milton-affected counties were scheduled to begin poll worker training in the days just before Hurricane Milton’s landfall. So, the supervisors would like the executive order to waive training for any poll worker who has had such training within the two years preceding the Nov. 5 General Election.

Additionally, as a result of the uncertainty of poll worker availability, the supervisorrs would like to waive a requirement that a poll worker be a registered voter of the county in which he or she would work. This will permit experienced poll workers to help out in a Hurricane Milton-affected county, as allowed for Hurricane Helene counties.

The supervisors would ike to suspend a requirement that early voting must be conducted at their main or branch offices. Due to the extensive damage caused by the hurricanes, certain of these offices are unusable or inaccessible.

Finally, they want to waive a requirement that a supervisor provide written notice of changes to polling place locations via U.S. Postal Service mail to affected voters. They noted the short time between these hurricanes and the election, and the fact that many voters in areas requiring a polling place change may not even have a mailbox.