MELBOURNE, Florida — Brevard County voters in eight precincts will vote at different buildings on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, after the county Supervisor of Elections Office announced on Monday evening, November 2, that extreme flooding had forced it to temporarily relocate a limited number of precinct polling locations in Melbourne and Palm Bay, on Florida's Space Coast.

Source: Brevard County Supervisor of Elections

"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," said Tim Bobanic, Brevard County Supervisor of Elections. His office warned that there may be additional polling place changes as it receives more information, and asked voters to check VoteBrevard.gov for updates before travelling.

Where to vote now: every moved precinct

Four precincts move to the New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne, FL 32934: precincts 307, 512 and 525, which were assigned to the Max K. Rodes Park Community Center, and precinct 309, which was assigned to the Veterans Memorial Complex.

Three precincts move to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne, FL 32901: precinct 306, from the Eddie Lee Taylor, Sr. Community Center, and precincts 323 and 509, from the Front Street Civic Center. In Palm Bay, precinct 517 moves from Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay to the Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay, FL 32907.

The relocations were made under the emergency process in Governor Ron DeSantis's Executive Order 26-227, which declared a state of emergency in seven counties on Monday after days of heavy rain. Read the emergency-order report

The Florida Division of Elections published the same relocation table on Monday, listing the moves as made pursuant to Executive Order 26-227 and section 101.71(2), Florida Statutes, and noting that the list is subject to change as information becomes available. Voters who are unsure of their precinct can check VoteBrevard.gov or call the elections office at 321-290-8683.

Source: Florida Division of Elections

How the flood built up

John Scott, director of the Brevard County Emergency Management Office, said residents farther north, in Mims and Titusville, saw 5 to 8 inches of rain, while the south of the county saw 15 to 20 inches — amounts he described as "borderline historic." The National Weather Service office in Melbourne reported rainfall estimates of 16 to 22 inches in parts of southern Brevard, cars were nearly submerged in places, and some areas saw waist-deep flooding.

Source: Central Florida Public Media

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey shared a photo of cars fully submerged in floodwater, urging residents not to drive through flooded streets because the water can conceal road damage and debris. Melbourne Police Commander Shawn Eising said firefighters were responding to about 25 calls from the flooding on top of their regular duties, warned that the water could take days to recede in some areas, and cautioned that flooded septic systems can back wastewater up into homes when it cannot drain.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in an update that, although the Supervisor of Elections Office was still assessing damage, people would be able to vote: "No matter what, everybody will get an opportunity to vote tomorrow. If they have to move a precinct, they'll project it out. We'll help get that information out." Both Ivey and Eising urged residents to stay indoors and avoid flooded areas.

The same flooding closed every Brevard Public Schools campus on Monday, and the district announced late Monday that campuses would be closed on Tuesday as well. Read the school-closure report

What it means for voters — and for the I-95 corridor

The practical instruction for affected voters is to go directly to the new location for their precinct rather than their usual polling place, and to allow extra time on flooded roads. Melbourne and Palm Bay sit on the Interstate 95 corridor, the main north–south freight route on Florida's east coast, and Sarno Road and Malabar Road are among the local arteries voters and truck drivers alike will use on Tuesday; officials' advice throughout the flooding has been consistent — do not drive through floodwater, watch for hidden road damage, potholes and possible sinkholes even after water recedes, and stay away from flooded areas.