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Severe weather, including flash flooding, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes, disrupted Election Day across several states, forcing election officials to move polling locations and scramble voting plans in key races. At least 21 polling sites in eight Florida counties were relocated after up to 22 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours, making roads impassable and prompting dozens of rescues.
The Florida secretary of state’s office published a list of new polling locations in Brevard, Broward, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties to ensure residents could still vote. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for seven counties affected by the flooding, while officials warned that additional changes could be made as weather conditions evolved.
In Oklahoma, a tornado with peak winds of about 100 mph damaged the Keyes Community Center and forced Cimarron County officials to change a polling location.
Elsewhere, historic flooding in Utah led Lieutenant Governor Deidre M. Henderson to declare a state of emergency and allow isolated San Juan County voters to request and return ballots electronically. In Colorado, similar accommodations were granted for voters in La Plata and Archuleta counties due to widespread flooding.
Weather forecasters predicted that the storm system would continue east on Tuesday (November 3), bringing the risk of flash flooding to parts of Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. According to NBC News, some areas remained under flood watches, and experts noted that while inclement weather has historically lowered voter turnout, increased early and mail-in voting may reduce that effect.
Looking ahead, election officials urged voters to check for updates on polling locations and allow extra time for travel due to hazardous conditions. The impact of the severe weather on final turnout and election results will be closely monitored as the storm system moves through the eastern United States.