DeSantis suspends election deadlines to ensure flexibility after hurricanes

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has suspended some election deadlines and rules in Florida to ensure flexibility for voters and election workers in areas affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

In an order issued this week, DeSantis altered deadlines for election supervisors to send out mail-in ballots and delegate polling spots. The Republican governor also halted requirements for poll worker training in places affected by the severe storms. Additionally, he ordered extended voting for two counties, Pinellas and Taylor. 

The Election Supervisors Association on Tuesday sent a letter detailing the challenges voting spots affected by the hurricanes face and asked Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd (R) for added flexibility in the process, The Associated Press reported. 

“Supervisors in the Helene and Milton Affected Counties have requested accommodations from certain provisions of the Florida Election Code to give voters in those counties ample opportunity to cast a ballot in the Election without impeding necessary action to respond to the ongoing emergency,” DeSantis’s office said in the order. 

The state was hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton in the span of two weeks. The right-leaning state could see high turnout on Election day, which is just weeks away.

Early voting in Florida begins Monday.

Early voting has already kicked off in more than 400 voting locations in North Carolina, another state devastated by Hurricane Helene. The state board of elections greenlighted some measures last week that would ensure more time to deliver absentee ballots and more time for voters to request them.