Polling places moved across three regions
Flash flooding, heavy rain and tornadoes forced election officials in three regions of the country to relocate polling places on Election Day, according to NBC News. The disruptions scrambled plans in closely watched races.
In Florida, at least 21 polling locations were moved across eight counties: Brevard, Broward, Highlands, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie. NBC News reported that intense rain caused flash flooding Monday and into Tuesday morning. Roads were impassable in parts of the state's Atlantic coast after a storm dropped as much as 22 inches of rain in 24 hours. One forecaster said the storm "exceeded everyone's expectations."
In Oklahoma, a tornado on Sunday forced Cimarron County officials to change one polling site. According to a National Weather Service damage survey, the storm had peak winds of about 100 mph. It damaged the roof of the Keyes Community Center and collapsed a wall. County election officials said in an emergency request that the tornado caused "considerable structural damage," leaving the site unsafe.
Emergency measures in the Four Corners and beyond
After historic flooding in the Four Corners region, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson declared a state of emergency. She also issued a special accommodation allowing San Juan County voters isolated by floodwaters to request and return ballots electronically. According to 9 News, the Colorado secretary of state is allowing a similar option for voters in La Plata and Archuleta counties.
Damage in parts of Colorado remains widespread, NBC News reported, with first responders searching for possibly stranded people, including by helicopter. Residents with homes along the Animas River in southwestern Colorado also faced evacuation. Record rainfall in usually dry Arizona caused deadly flooding and power outages.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs issued a statewide emergency declaration Monday. The governors of New Mexico and Colorado asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster to unlock federal funding assistance. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven Atlantic-coast counties.
Voters describe confusion
Port St. Lucie resident Jessica Rendon told NBC News she spent hours trying to vote after flooding left highways waterlogged and closed polling places. She said she learned her site had moved only from another resident who was also trying to vote. "I personally did not see one officer out in public helping any of us out," Rendon said.
She said residents were sharing polling location information on social media and that many people near her were still stuck at home. She said she could get around only because she owns a truck. "Frankly I don't think a lot can vote because of this," Rendon said.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, two of 254 polling locations were briefly closed because of power problems, election authorities said on social media. Both have reopened. NBC News reported that the closures prompted conspiracy claims online, with some users alleging impropriety in the swing state.
Weather outlook and the effect on turnout
Forecasters said the storm system would move east Tuesday, bringing possible heavy rain to Mississippi, Missouri and western Tennessee. Jennifer Tate, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center, said "scattered flash floods are possible" in the lower Mississippi River valley, including areas such as Memphis. Much of the central U.S., from east Texas to the Midwest, can expect wet, dreary weather. The West Coast looks mostly pleasant, and the East Coast outside Florida looks mostly clear.
A flood watch remained in effect in parts of Florida, though rainfall rates were slowing. Forecasters warned that areas hit by catastrophic flooding remain "extremely sensitive to any additional rainfall."
Research on elections from 1948 to 2000 found a modest drop in turnout during unusually intense rain. Brad Gomez, a Florida State University political science professor, said turnout fell about eight-tenths of 1 percentage point for each inch of rain above a county's average. Experts told NBC News the effect is shrinking as more people vote early or by mail, and that it is hard to predict whether the weather will change the outcome of key races.
