DeSantis won't extend voter registration deadline amid Hurricane Milton

Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis will not extend the voter registration deadline as Hurricane Milton approaches the Sunshine State and is expected to hit west central Florida on Wednesday. 

“There’s nothing inhibiting you registering today," DeSantis said Tuesday, according to local media. "The storm has not hit yet. Now, after the storm, we will see what damage is there, and if I have to do a similar executive order that I did in Ian and then I did for Helene, we’re happy to do it. But we’re not gonna change any registration deadline."

Voter registration ends in Florida on Oct. 7.

Milton recently strengthened Monday to a Category 5 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 125 mph in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tampa and Orlando are likely to be hit harshly by the storm. Waters could reach as high as 12 feet in Tampa Bay so mass evacuations are expected there.

Florida was recently hit hard by Hurricane Helene, along with the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. 

DeSantis did authorize some election changes for certain counties that were affected by Helene.