In a new order issued on Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis suspended several election rules and deadlines, allowing Florida voters and election supervisors in hurricane-affected areas to have additional time and flexibility to ensure they are able to vote in the November elections.
In addition, DeSantis modified the deadlines for elections supervisors to designate polling locations and send out vote-by-mail ballots, and extended early voting for Taylor and Pinellas Counties until Election Day.
Additionally, he suspended the necessity for poll worker training in the affected regions.
Tuesday, the election supervisors’ association sent a letter to Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who is responsible for elections, outlining the challenges that elections supervisors are encountering in storm-affected counties and requesting rule flexibility.
Major damage was wrought by both storms in the majority of the counties that were affected on the Gulf Coast.
According to an email from agency spokesperson Mark Ard, the Florida Department of State is collaborating with elections supervisors to execute DeSantis’ directives.
DeSantis’ order was issued in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which struck the state within two weeks of each other, shortly before the upcoming election next month.
In addition to the presidential and Senate contests, Florida anticipates a substantial turnout for ballot initiatives that legalize recreational marijuana and enshrine abortion rights.
The majority of vote-by-mail ballots have been sent, and early voting commences on Monday.
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