Heavy rain and flash flooding in Florida forced officials to move several polling stations Monday, potentially affecting what has been forecast as a tight race for governor.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven counties along the Atlantic seaboard that are being hit with flash flooding and extreme precipitation.
So far, at least four precincts in St. Lucie County, which Donald Trump won with 54% of the vote in 2024, have had to be moved because of flooding concerns as the region is hit with “historic” levels of rain ahead of Election Day. Five polling locations in Brevard County also have been moved because of inclement weather and for the “safety and security” of election workers, according to Tim Bobanic, the county’s elections supervisor.
About 22 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in Palm Bay, Florida, the hardest-hit community, prompting water rescues and evacuations, according to Robert Haley, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Melbourne.
