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Heeding requests, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis eases voting rules after hurricanes

Justin Garcia, Tampa Bay Times on

Published in News & Features

Gov. Ron DeSantis is easing some elections rules this year after officials in several counties asked for emergency relief following back-to-back hurricanes.

The Florida Supervisor of Elections association on Tuesday sent a letter to DeSantis asking him to waive several state requirements in counties that were impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The governor on Wednesday signed an executive order allowing for the changes the supervisors requested, citing “the damage and disruption” caused by the storms.

The temporary changes include: easing rules for hiring and training poll workers, giving elections officials a longer deadline to decide where to put polling places, extending early voting until Election Day and giving more flexibility to voters needing to change where a vote-by-mail ballot is sent.

 

This is the second time DeSantis has approved easing elections rules this hurricane season. On Oct. 2, he signed off on relaxing some rules for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Those changes included flexibility in sending mail ballots and designating polling locations.

DeSantis did not extend Florida’s voter registration deadline earlier this month despite pleas from voting rights groups ahead of Hurricane Milton.


©2024 Tampa Bay Times. Visit at tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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