DeSantis issues an executive order authorizing election changes in Florida counties affected by Helene

TALLAHASSEE – Responding to a request for flexibility in storm-hit areas, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Thursday approving election changes in 10 counties trying to recover Hurricane Helene.

DeSantis' order allows election officials to conduct the election heavily damaged areas Make changes to early voting sites and establish consolidated vote centers where people can cast their votes. The order also loosens restrictions on absentee ballot applications and allows state employees to take paid administrative leave to work as poll workers on Election Day. The governor's action came as supervisors across the state mailed ballots to voters for the Nov. 5 election.

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

Thursday's order will not affect “voter safety efforts,” DeSantis said.

“None of this will be repealed. But if a polling place is destroyed, you have the option to set up another location, provide proper notice and follow all other state laws, but doing so will ensure that the affected residents are preserved.” “The people affected by this storm and those displaced may still have the opportunity to vote in the November elections,” he told reporters.

David Ramba, executive director of the Florida Supervisors of Elections, on Tuesday asked Secretary of State Cord Byrd for flexibility in counties where election infrastructure was damaged.

“Hurricane Helene forced countless voters and poll workers from their homes in several affected counties,” Ramba wrote.

Regulators “appreciate the rapid response of Secretary Byrd and Governor DeSantis to address the issues we face as a result of this devastating storm and hope that these will provide a seamless voting experience for Floridians affected by Hurricane Helene,” Ramba said SMS on Thursday.

Under state law, supervisors are prohibited from moving polling places to another location less than 30 days before the election. Thursday's order allows supervisors in the 10 counties “to exercise their discretion to relocate or consolidate polling locations if they believe the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene warrant it.”

Supervisors will also be allowed to designate new locations for drop boxes for voting. Election officials in affected areas will also be able to mail ballots to voters' temporary addresses, similar to the process used for military voters or voters abroad. Mail-in ballots can also be forwarded 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 options for those affected by Hurricane Helene.” The effort also aims to ensure that people who have been evacuated and cannot return home — including those in nursing homes or hospitals — can receive mail-in ballots or vote on Election Day.

It's not the first time the state has given election officials flexibility after a severe storm.

Local election officials were allowed to consolidate polling places after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida in September 2022 and Hurricane Michael struck 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 send ballots to other counties for tallying. Some counties, such as Bay, set up “mega” sites that were available to all voters, regardless of their address, for early voting and Election Day.