Storms and flooding force polling place changes in several states on Election Day
Florida's governor declared an emergency in seven counties, while forecasters warn of heavy rain, damaging winds and a few tornadoes across central states.
A storm system brought heavy rain, flooding and severe weather threats to parts of the country as Americans voted in Tuesday's elections, with all 435 House seats and 35 contests on the ballot. Newsweek reports that the Storm Prediction Center expects thunderstorms across the lower and middle Mississippi Valley, and that some storms could bring damaging winds and a couple of tornadoes. Flash flooding is possible where storms pass over the same places again and again.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an Monday declaring a state of emergency in seven counties, which lets election officials move polling places. Fox News reports the Florida Department of State listed changes in Brevard, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. The Washington Examiner says 19 polling locations across seven counties had to move.
It also reports that flooding in Utah's San Juan County led officials to allow electronic voting, that some Colorado voting stations moved, and that an EF1 tornado damaged some Oklahoma polling stations. The New York Post reports that Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a statewide emergency Monday and that Flagstaff police said a man was found dead after being seen swept into floodwaters. Research suggests rain can lower turnout modestly, according to Newsweek.
- 19 polling locations moved across seven Florida counties, per the Washington Examiner — Washington Examiner
- 6 to 12 inches rain that fell in parts of Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties, per the National Weather Service — Newsweek
- more than 35 states and 120 million people expected to be impacted by the system by the end of the week, per the New York Post — New York Post
- 435 House seats on the ballot Tuesday — Newsweek
- 1 to 2 percentage points estimated average turnout decline per extra inch of rain, per a 2023 study — Newsweek
Three sides of the story
Liberal2 outlets
Rain on Election Day may deter voters
The New York Times headline says Election Day "could be a rainy one in some areas." The outlet adds that researchers have found "bad weather can deter certain voters."
Center1 outlet
Storm forecast, polling hours and what research says
Newsweek's piece, "Map of Midterm Election Storms as Severe Weather Threatens 6 States," opens with a storm system bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding threats hours before polls open. It walks through National Weather Service alerts in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida and New Mexico, and says the alerts are localized and do not mean every polling place is under a warning. It reports flooding already under way in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties in Florida after 6 to 12 inches of rain, and road closures near Chama, New Mexico.
A section lists polling hours in Illinois, Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Arkansas. Newsweek then turns to research, citing a 2023 study by Søren Damsbo-Svendsen and Kasper M. Hansen that associated each additional inch of rain with a turnout decline of roughly 1 to 2 percentage points. It adds that the findings "do not mean bad weather will determine Tuesday's midterm results."
Conservative3 outlets
Flooding disrupts voting and a storm turns deadly
The New York Post leads with a storm that "turns deadly," citing Flagstaff police on a man found dead after being swept into floodwaters. It details a statewide emergency declared by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, emergencies in Utah and Colorado, and a forecast reaching the East Coast Thursday. The Washington Examiner says storms "are set to complicate voting" across several states, including places where pivotal races are being held.
It reports 19 Florida polling locations moved, electronic voting in Utah's San Juan County, moved stations in Colorado and an EF1 tornado in Oklahoma. It says poor weather "is known to suppress turnout, especially among low-propensity voters." Fox News focuses on Florida, where it says voters in seven counties are directed to temporary polling locations under DeSantis's Executive Order 26-227.
It lists the new sites for Brevard, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.
Which side made the stronger case?
In Florida, voters in the affected counties are being directed to temporary polling places, Fox News reports, and the state says voters can check its emergency election page or contact the county elections office. Florida polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and people in line at closing may vote. In Utah's San Juan County, the Washington Examiner says voters were emailed instructions for casting an electronic ballot.
All sources: 6 articles from 6 outlets
Liberal (2)
- The Boston Globe: Election Day weather: Here’s where stormy trouble spots could impede US voter turnout
Center (1)
Conservative (3)
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