Where weather could complicate Election Day voting

Storms and flooding are set to complicate voting across several states, including in locations where pivotal races are being held.Poor weather is known to suppress turnout, especially among low-propensity voters. In some places such as Florida, however, severe storms and flooding have disrupted the logistics of voting, forcing 19 polling locations across seven counties to change locations. The move was allowed by an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on Monday, declaring a state of emergency in Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties. State law allows election officials to “designate a new polling place which shall be accessible to the public on election day” when a state of emergency is declared.The rural San Juan County in Utah also suffered flooding, but state officials pursued a different strategy — residents can now vote electronically. Utah law usually reserves secure electronic ballots for military, disabled, or overseas voters. Voters in the county were emailed on Tuesday with instructions on how to cast the digital ballot.Flooding also disrupted voting in parts of Colorado, forcing officials to move some voting stations and clearing the way for the use of emergency online ballots.In Oklahoma, an EF1 tornado damaged some polling stations, forcing their move elsewhere for Election Day.DOJ ANNOUNCES DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTION MONITORS IN ALL 50 STATES FOR FIRST TIMEElection Day itself is set to see massive storms batter much of the central U.S., with flooding expected in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.Varying levels of rain are set to hit key races in Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Michigan. Parts of Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky will also be hit by thunderstorms.