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LUCY MORGANDespite severe storm damage in three counties, officials are finding ways around destroyed polling places and power losses.
TALLAHASSEE - It now appears likely all 67 Florida counties will participate in the Aug. 31 primary.
"I'm very optimistic they will meet the challenge," Secretary of State Glenda Hood said Wednesday after visiting the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Charley.
Some voters may cast ballots in tents. Others may vote in locations powered by emergency generators. But officials in the stricken counties are confident they can hold an election, Hood said.
Miami-Dade County had to postpone the primary elections in 1992 after it was hit by Hurricane Andrew. State officials had expected to order a similar delay in the three counties hardest hit by the storm.
In De Soto County, early voting began Tuesday with the use of backup generators to power the elections office. In Hardee County, where power to the courthouse was restored, voters were able to cast early ballots Wednesday.
Officials in Charlotte County say they will combine some precincts in situations where original polling places were destroyed. They will use emergency generators where they lack power.
The stricken areas are pulling things together with help from other counties and the state elections staff.
Next week, Citrus County Elections Supervisor Susan Gill will conduct pollworker training in Hardee County for those who will staff the county's 12 precincts on Election Day.
Other elections supervisors and retired elections staffers from several counties are sending help to the smaller, storm-damaged counties, Hood said.
De Soto County, population 33,879, has only an elections supervisor and one assistant. Hardee County, population 27,659, had an elections supervisor and two assistants, but Elections Supervisor Dean Cullins died of a heart attack Monday morning, leaving only his two assistants to handle election preparations.
"They are moving forward even while dealing with personal tragedies," Hood said. "They have lost so much else, they don't want people to lose their right to vote."