Brevard Voters Relocate as Floods Hit, Donalds and Jolly Cast Ballots

Central Florida residents and voters across the state faced a mix of record participation and logistical hurdles on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The Florida Division of Elections reported that nearly 5.5 million voters had already submitted mail ballots or voted early out of 13.7 million eligible voters. By 4 p.m., an additional 2 million people had cast their ballots in person.

This election cycle involves high-stakes races for the governor's office, the state's first in eight years, alongside the attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture. Voters also decided on every Florida House seat, several Senate seats, county commissions, city and town elections, and local referendums. Amendment 3, which proposes major cuts to local property taxes, requires 60% of the vote to pass.

In Brevard County, widespread flooding disrupted voting plans for many residents. Election officials relocated six polling places on Tuesday to accommodate the weather conditions. Tylisa Hampton of News 6 interviewed voters who reported driving longer distances to reach their new locations. One voter stated, "Well I wanted to do early voting, but I didn't get a chance. Vote your opinions and your beliefs."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds voted in Collier County alongside his wife, Erika. Donalds planned to host his election night watch party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood. Speaking to WINK-TV, Donalds identified affordability as a top priority if he wins the governorship. He described the campaign process as a positive experience, telling the station, "Honestly, it's been a great journey. Really at peace with how we've conducted ourselves, how we ran this campaign."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly greeted supporters outside a polling place in Pinellas County. Jolly acknowledged the statistical challenges facing his candidacy in the state. He noted, "It's Florida. The numbers are against the Democratic nominee, but I think what we're seeing is voters are about to defy history."

Election officials continued to monitor turnout throughout the afternoon. Polls remained open for the rest of the day, with final results expected later in the evening. The state's election division provided real-time data updates as voters cast their ballots for the various statewide and local positions on the ballot.

Residents in Brevard County were advised to verify their polling locations before heading to the polls due to the ongoing flooding. The relocation of the six sites was a response to the waterlogged conditions in specific parts of the county. Both major gubernatorial candidates completed their voting procedures early in the day.