Two hurricanes have impacted Southwest Florida just before the November General Election.
Both Helene and Milton have had an impact on election officials who are in the middle of the election as mail ballots are being returned and even more requested before the deadline.
Hurricane Milton was the latest to throw a wrench into election planning but workers at the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office came in over the weekend to get caught up. On Monday they tested their machines to make sure everything worked as it should.
Dan Moser of Fort Myers was among the many voters to hand deliver his mail ballot fearing the possibility of more interruptions and he realizes voting may not be at the top of everyone’s mind since many people were impacted by Milton.
“If your house has been destroyed and whatnot I think it's still something worth taking the time and effort to do it and hoping there are not a lot of obstacles in your way,” Moser said.
Obstacles are what Diane and Paul Marks of Fort Myers are worried about. With the end of hurricane season more than a month away they picked up a mail ballot Monday and filled it out in the hallways of the election office and turned it in.
“We vote every year and go to our precinct but we don't know what the weather is going to be like. Hurricane season is not over,” the Mosers said.
Hurricane Milton forced election offices to close. Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said it put his office behind after closing for four days while ballots came in.
Doyle said employees worked overtime to catch up.
“Our staff worked tirelessly to get caught up on voter registration, vote-by-mail processing and vote-by-mail requests,” Doyle said.
But when asked if any polling places would be forced to close like many did during Hurricane Ian Doyle said no with one exception.
“It looks like they're all okay including Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Doyle said while Boca Grande was still in question he promised to make it happen for voters there.
Charlotte and Collier County voting precincts were also spared.
Although flooding during Hurricane Helene forced the old Charlotte County courthouse to close as an early voting site.
Leah Valenti is the Supervisor and said the building is no longer ADA compliant because flooding destroyed the elevator.
Early voting is moved to the Charlotte Harbor Event Center.
Lee County Monday successfully tested all of its equipment to ensure a safe and secure election.
All election supervisors suggest more people request a mail ballot just in case.
“It's an insurance policy. I never expected we'd have another hurricane like Milton and Helene but here we are,” Doyle said.
Voters have until October 24 to request a mail-in ballot. Anybody displaced by the storm is advised to call their supervisor of elections office.