TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Polling sites along the coast have lost locations due to Hurricane Helene’s damage, and Florida voters are starting to worry about how this could change things for the 2024 election.
The clock is ticking this election season as the deadline to register to vote is days away and residents are concerned about voting disruptions after the storm.
“Just because someone lost their home, doesn’t mean they lost their vote,” said David Ballard, chief of staff for the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.
Ballard described some of the polling locations as a “complete loss” sharing that one of the sites had water flooded up to his shoulders on Anna Maria Island.
Due to the damage left by Helene, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order for impacted counties as voting challenges and hardships continue, but assures that voters will still have the opportunity to vote.
“We are continuing with voter security efforts, none of those are being lifted, but if there is a polling place that’s been destroyed, you have the ability to set up a different site, provide proper notice and follow all the rest of state law,” DeSantis said.