Extreme flooding in Brevard County has forced election officials to relocate several Election Day polling places for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as voters across Florida cast ballots in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Office announced the moves after days of relentless rain left roads underwater across the Space Coast, warning that the safety of voters and poll workers had to come first. Polls remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but voters assigned to the affected precincts must now report to different buildings, and officials urged everyone to check their assigned location before setting out.

The announcement is the latest disruption from a slow-moving storm system that has dumped extraordinary amounts of rain on central and eastern Florida. In southern Brevard County, radar and gauge estimates put rainfall at 15 to 20 inches in about 12 hours in some spots, a total forecasters described as a once-in-a-thousand-year event. Palm Bay and West Melbourne bore the brunt of the deluge, with streets flooded and rescue crews using high-water vehicles to reach residents.

Key Points

• Brevard County has relocated several Election Day precinct polling places for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, because of extreme flooding.
• Precincts 307, 512, 525 and 309 move to the New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne.
• Precinct 306 and precincts 323 and 509 move to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne.
• Precinct 517 moves from Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay to Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE.
• Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and officials say further changes are possible, so voters should check VoteBrevard.gov before travelling.

What Happened

The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Office said it was temporarily relocating a limited number of precinct polling locations for the Tuesday elections because of extreme flooding conditions. Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic said the decision was taken for the safety and security of election workers and voters, describing the circumstances as unprecedented. The relocations affect voters in West Melbourne, Melbourne and Palm Bay, three of the communities hardest hit by the weekend and Monday rainfall.

Under the plan, precincts 307, 512 and 525, normally based at the Max K. Rodes Community Center in West Melbourne, move to the New Shiloh Christian Center at 3900 Sarno Road in Melbourne. Precinct 309, normally at the Veterans Memorial Complex in West Melbourne, moves to the same New Shiloh site. Precinct 306, normally at the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Center, and precincts 323 and 509, normally at the Front Street Civic Center, move to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center at 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street in Melbourne. Precinct 517 moves from Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay to Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers at 120 Malabar Road SE in Palm Bay.

Officials stressed that the list could still change, and directed voters to VoteBrevard.gov for updates.

Background and Context

The flooding began when a weak, slow-moving low pressure system stalled over the Florida peninsula, drawing a strong, moist flow off the Atlantic. Rain fell heavily from late Sunday into Monday, and a flash flood emergency, the National Weather Service's most serious flood warning, was issued for Palm Bay and nearby communities on Monday morning. Palm Bay officials issued a shelter-in-place advisory, and police reported vehicles stuck in floodwater.

The scale of the rain was remarkable even by Florida standards. The Weather Channel reported more than 15 inches of rain in southern and coastal Brevard County, while FOX Weather cited radar estimates of 18 to 20 inches in 12 hours just south of Palm Bay. A water main break forced a shut-off for some customers, with a boil water notice planned. Across Florida, 34 counties were under flood watches or warnings on Monday, and Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven counties: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie.

Schools felt the disruption too. Brevard Public Schools closed all campuses and offices on Monday and again on Tuesday, with a return expected on Wednesday, while Florida Tech cancelled Tuesday classes and campus activities as crews cleared debris and restored power to parts of campus. Eastern Florida State College also stayed closed on Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Melbourne warned that the St. Johns River near Cocoa would rise from minor into moderate flood stage by mid to late week, meaning some flooding could linger well after the rain stops.

Brevard Polling Places Flooding: Where to Vote Now

For voters, the practical question is simple: where do I go? Anyone in precincts 307, 512, 525 or 309 should go to the New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne. Voters in precinct 306 or precincts 323 and 509 should go to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne. Voters in precinct 517 should go to Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay. All other Brevard precincts vote at their normal locations unless the elections office announces otherwise.

Polls in Florida are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, and anyone in line at 7 p.m. is entitled to vote. Voters unsure of their precinct can check VoteBrevard.gov or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office before leaving home. Officials also urged voters to allow extra time, to avoid flooded roads and never to drive around barricades, a message echoed by emergency managers across the county as water continued to cover low-lying routes on Tuesday morning.

The Brevard moves follow similar changes in Indian River County, where voters were shifted from the Sebastian Church of God to the Sebastian Elks Lodge after flooding made regular sites unusable.

Reactions and Quotes

Supervisor Tim Bobanic said the relocations were necessary for safety. "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," he said in the elections office announcement. The office added that further changes could follow if conditions worsen, and asked voters to check VoteBrevard.gov for the latest information.

Why It Matters

Election Day disruptions matter most when they hit voters who already face the longest odds in getting to the polls. Flooding does not only close buildings; it closes roads, strands cars, knocks out power and forces families to deal with damaged homes at the exact moment they are supposed to vote. In a midterm election where all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships are at stake, and where early voting had already set records, even a small drop in turnout in one county can matter in close races.

Florida is also a state where election administration itself has been under intense scrutiny. With about 1,000 federal monitors deployed nationwide, roughly triple the last midterms' number, officials are keen to show voting remains accessible even in a natural disaster.

What Happens Next

On Tuesday, the immediate focus is getting voters to the right buildings. The elections office will monitor road conditions and site access through the day and may announce further relocations if new flooding emerges. Voters should check VoteBrevard.gov before travelling and again if they plan to vote later in the day, since conditions can change quickly.

After the polls close at 7 p.m., attention turns to counting and recovery. River forecasts suggest the St. Johns River near Cocoa will keep rising into moderate flood stage by mid to late week, so some roads may stay flooded even as rain eases. Schools are expected to resume on Wednesday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Brevard polling places moved for Election Day? Precincts 307, 512, 525 and 309 moved to the New Shiloh Christian Center, 3900 Sarno Road, Melbourne. Precinct 306 and precincts 323 and 509 moved to the Joseph N. Davis Community Center, 2547 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne. Precinct 517 moved to Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Malabar Road SE.

What time do polls close in Florida? Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. is entitled to vote.

How can I check my polling place? Visit VoteBrevard.gov, the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections website, for the latest precinct locations and any further changes.

Why were the polling places moved? Flooding made regular sites unsafe after 15 to 20 inches of rain fell in southern Brevard County.

Are other Florida counties affected? Yes. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in seven counties, and Indian River County on the Treasure Coast also moved Election Day polling places because of flooding.

Related coverage: Florida flooding moves Treasure Coast polling places ahead of Election Day, Brevard schools closed Tuesday as historic Florida flooding swamps county and DeSantis declares Florida flooding state of emergency in 7 counties.