Judge extends early voting in Winter Park

WINTER PARK, Fla. — A judge issued a court order extending early voting for four hours in Winter Park on Sunday after two suspicious items brought voting to a halt Saturday afternoon.

The two suspicious items at the Winter Park library halted early voting for roughly four hours while the Orange County bomb squad investigated Saturday. Crews later determined both items did not pose a threat.

Saturday evening, the Democratic Party of Florida filed an emergency motion requesting a judge extend early voting hours into Sunday. The judge granted the order Sunday morning.

Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, said the Winter Park library on E. New England Avenue will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for early voting on Sunday.

Cowles said voters who early vote on Sunday will fill out a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will count as long as there are no challenges to the court order. GOP officials in Orange County told WFTV they do not plan to challenge the ruling.

The Florida Democratic Party also filed motions in three south Florida counties in hopes of extending early voting hours.

On Saturday, Governor Rick Scott denied requests from Democrats to extend early voting.

WFTV