Flooding Disrupts 21 Polling Locations In 8 FL Counties: Officials

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for seven Florida counties impacted by severe weather conditions, including extreme flooding, on Monday at 12:30 p.m., just ahead of Election Day.

The emergency order is in effect for Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties, which have seen heavy rains in recent days.

As a result of the significant flooding, at least 21 polling places across eight counties were forced to close and move to new locations on Tuesday, the Florida Division of Elections said.

Under the governor’s order, any Supervisor of Elections who can’t comply with state statutes regarding Election Day voting “must notify the Florida Department of State of any partial or substitute measures the Supervisor wishes to undertake, such undertaking subject to the Florida Secretary of State's approval.”

The following polling locations have been affected by the flooding, state officials said:

Brevard County

• Precincts 307, 512 and 525: Old polling place at Max K. Rodes Park Community Center moved to New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne
• Precinct 309: Old polling place at Veterans Memorial Complex moved to New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne
• Precinct 306: Old polling place at Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Center moved to Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne
• Precincts 323 and 509: Old polling place at Front Street Civic Center moved to Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne
• Precinct 517: Old polling place at Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay moved to Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay

Broward County

• Precinct T018: Old polling place at Paradise Village Clubhouse in Davie moved to Precinct T013, Tree Tops park (Oak Ridge Auditorium), 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie

Highlands County

• Precinct 20: Old polling place at Springlake Community Center, 209 Springlake Boulevard, Sebring moved to Penny Ogg Operations Center, 4504 Kenilworth Boulevard, Sebring

Indian River County

• Precinct 7: Old polling place at Sebastian Church of God, 281 Delaware Avenue, Sebastian moved to Precinct 8, Sebastian Elks Lodge No. 2714, 731 South Fleming Street, Sebastian
• Precinct 26: Old polling place at Morning Star Church, 698 Timber Ridge Trail SW, Vero Beach moved to Intergenerational Recreation Center, Room 112, 1590 Ninth Street SW, Vero Beach

Martin County

• Precinct 2: Old polling place at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1875 NW Britt Road, Stuart moved to Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office, 135 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Stuart

Okeechobee County

• Precinct 10: Old polling place at Fort Drum Community Church, 32415 North Highway 441, Okeechobee moved to Precinct 1, High Point Church, 4550 North Highway 441, Okeechobee

Palm Beach County

• Precinct 6401: Old polling place at Casa Rio Clubhouse moved to RB Preparatory and Achievement Academy, 7071 Garden Road, Riviera Beach
• Precinct 7628: Old polling place at Ironhorse Country Club moved to North County Senior Center, 5217 Northlake Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens

St. Lucie County

• Precinct 12: Old polling place at Fort Pierce Masonic Lodge moved to Precinct 25, Days Inn Midtown, 3224 S. U.S. Highway 1, Fort Pierce
• Precincts 49 and 71: Old polling place at Oak Hammock K-8 School moved to Precinct 45, Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Boulevard, Port St. Lucie (Access from Airoso Boulevard)
• Precinct 51: Old polling place at Disabled American Veterans Hall moved to Precinct 45, Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Boulevard, Port St. Lucie (Access from Airoso Boulevard)
• Precincts 67 and 86: Old polling place at St. Lucie West Centennial High School moved to MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place, Port St. Lucie
• Precinct 92: Old polling place at The Brennity at Tradition moved to Tradition Town Hall, 10799 SW Civic Lane, Port St. Lucie
• Precincts 85 and 95: Old polling place at Indian River State College Veterans Center of Excellence moved to MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place, Port St. Lucie
• Precincts 6 and 28: Old polling place at Renaissance Business Park (formerly Orange Blossom Business Center) moved to Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce

To serve voters, the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections office at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building C, in Viera, will remain open on Tuesday for those dropping off mail ballots, the office said in a social media post.

"For the safety and security of our election workers and the voters of Brevard, it is necessary to relocate a couple of precinct polling locations due to these unprecedented circumstances," Tim Bobanic, Brevard County Supervisor of Elections said in a statement, according to Miramar News.

Voting locations in the affected counties could change throughout the day if the weather worsens, officials added.

“Our Supervisors of Elections have said more changes are possible if conditions get worse, so check your county’s site before you head out. Your safety always comes first, so make sure to check your neighborhood’s conditions before leaving the house,” Rep. Brian Mast, who represents Florida’s District 21, posted to X on Tuesday morning.