UPDATED: Governor DeSantis Signs Executive Order for Voting Adjustments in 20 Florida Counties

Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order allowing adjustments to polling places, drop boxes, and vote-by-mail procedure in 20 counties significantly affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Read below for all you need to know:

What Counties Are Affected?

Charlotte (H), Citrus (H), Collier (M), Dixie (H), Glades (M), Hernando (H), Highlands (M), Hillsborough (H), Indian River (M), Lee (H), Levy (H), Madison (H), Manatee (B), Orange (M), Pasco (B), Pinellas (B), Polk (M), Sarasota (B), St. Lucie (M), and Taylor (H) counties. (H-Helene, M-Milton, B-Both)

So, What’s Changed? (Updated Oct. 17, 2024: 2:30 p.m.)

1. Early Voting: The usual deadlines for announcing the locations and hours of early voting sites and secure ballot drop-off stations are temporarily lifted for Supervisors in affected counties. However, they must still meet the requirement of at least 20 days before the election. For Hurricane Milton-affected counties, notice and hours of early voting sites may be announced 10 days prior to the election or 2 days before use, whichever is earlier. The secretary can relax the rules about which facilities can be used for early voting if a Supervisor in one of the affected counties shows a specific need for it and gets approval from the Secretary. Pinellas and Taylor counties may utilize early voting through election day.

2. Vote-by-Mail Ballots: The requirement for a signed request to send vote-by-mail ballots to a different address is lifted for affected counties. Supervisors in affected counties can now accept such requests without the signed writing, similar to how they handle requests from military and overseas voters. However, you still need to provide your Florida driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number.

b. Mailing Ballots: The rule that vote-by-mail ballots can’t be forwarded is lifted for affected counties. Supervisors can now send ballots to an alternative address provided by the voter. Supervisors in Milton Affected counties may mail out a vote-by-mail ballot as soon as possible but no later than 10 days before the election.

3. Secure Ballot Intake Stations: The usual deadlines for announcing the locations of secure ballot drop-off stations are temporarily lifted for Supervisors in affected counties. Helene Affected: They still need to meet the requirement at least 20 days before the election. Milton Affected: They still need to meet the requirement at least 10 days before the election, except for Pinellas and Taylor counties.

4. Polling Places: The rule that prohibits Supervisors from moving a voting location less than 30 days before an election is temporarily lifted for affected counties. This means Supervisors in affected counties can move or combine polling locations if needed. If they do move a polling location, it should be to another accessible site within the same precinct, or if that’s not possible, to a nearby precinct. If there’s not enough time to fully follow the usual rules, Supervisors can choose a new polling location and inform the public as quickly as possible. If they can’t fully follow the rules, they should let the Director of the Division of Elections know what alternative steps they are taking.

5. Poll Workers and Trainings: Normally, poll workers need to complete specific training before the election. This rule is temporarily lifted for counties affected by specific issues, like a shortage of poll workers. If there’s a shortage, the Supervisor can use poll workers who were trained for the 2022 election or within the last two years. Normally, election board members must be registered voters in the county where they serve. This rule is temporarily lifted for affected counties. Supervisors in affected counties can appoint election board members who are registered qualified electors anywhere in Florida outside of an affected county. State employees are also encouraged to work as poll workers in affected counties.

6. Coordination and Notifications: The Secretary of Elections must work with election officials to ensure people impacted by Hurricane Helene can vote. This includes making sure vote-by-mail ballots reach law enforcement, military, first responders, utility workers, volunteers, nursing home residents, and hospital patients who were evacuated due to the storm.

Also, any election official who uses the special powers given by the Executive Order must immediately notify the public widely via social media, website, television, etc.

You can access the full Executive Order here.

Where Can I Find Up-to-Date Information?

Contact your local Supervisor of Elections office to learn more about changes to your county’s voting process. A list of supervisors for all affected counties is below.

Charlotte County:

Supervisor Leah Valenti

Website

Email: soe@soecharlottecountyfl.gov

Phone Number: 941-833-5400

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Collier County:

Supervisor Melissa Blazier

Website

Email: Supervisor.Elections@CollierVotes.gov

Phone: (239) 252-8683

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Citrus County:

Supervisor Maureen Baird

Website

Phone Number: 352-564-7120, 800-655-6645

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Dixie County:

Supervisor Starlet Cannon

Website

Email: dixiecountysoe@bellsouth.net

Phone Number: (352) 498-1216

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Glades County:

Supervisor Aletris Farnam

Website

Email: vote@voteglades.gov

Phone Number: 863-946-6005

Hernando County: