Severe weather threatens US midterm election turnout on Tuesday

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 19:45 · Archive

Storms across the South and central US could reduce turnout as polling places face disruptions.

Severe weather is disrupting voting across the United States in the midterm elections. According to AccuWeather, the biggest concerns are concentrated across the central and southern United States, where showers, steady rain and thunderstorms will stretch from the Gulf Coast into portions of the Mississippi Valley and Midwest. Record flooding is already threatening Florida's space coast, with storms dumping five to 15 inches of rain between Melbourne to Fort Pierce, according to the National Weather Service.

Florida is set to be hit by more storms on election day Tuesday afternoon before 3 p.m. and after 5 p.m., though these are expected to be less rain-laden than the Monday flooding. Some showers are also forecast in neighbouring states, including coastal South Carolina and Georgia. In the Southwest, where severe flooding has threatened residents in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, drier weather is expected to return on Tuesday.

Most polling places remain open in rain, but more severe weather can lead to last-minute site changes and reduced turnout, particularly among people who only occasionally vote. Al Jazeera reports that officials have moved polling sites and arranged alternative voting for residents displaced or stranded by the extreme weather. Over 50 million Americans had already voted before election day.

How it is being reported

• Severe weather disrupts election day across several US statesFlash floods, torrential rain and tornadoes have disrupted midterm election day in several US states.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 19:13
• Heading to the polls? Here is what you can expect from the weather on election dayPoor weather conditions can hurt voter turnout for people who only occasionally voteIndependent World · 2 Nov, 18:39

In this story: United States · Florida · South Carolina · Georgia · Arizona · New Mexico · Colorado · National Weather Service

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log