Additional Coverage:
Hurricane Helene has disrupted election preparations in North Carolina and other southeastern states. In western North Carolina, election officials are assessing damage and adjusting plans for early and mail-in voting.
Over 190,000 mail-in ballots have been sent, but flooding may delay or destroy some. Mail service is suspended, slowing ballot delivery. Additionally, state legislators have eliminated a grace period for late-arriving ballots.
At least 14 county election offices are closed due to the hurricane, and election staff face challenges with power outages and limited communication. Despite these obstacles, officials are working to ensure voter safety and accessibility.
Counties have the authority to reschedule absentee ballot review meetings. The State Board of Elections will provide hurricane-related information and procedures for voters to cite natural disasters as reasons for not having photo IDs.
Ballot delivery could be affected even in unaffected counties if they travel through western North Carolina. Voters who have lost ballots or been displaced can cancel and request new ones.
Early in-person voting begins on October 17th, and election officials will check the accessibility of affected polling sites. Staffing issues may arise due to displaced poll workers.
North Carolina is a key battleground state, and the hurricane’s impact could affect voter turnout. Other southeastern states like Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also facing election challenges due to Hurricane Helene.