The Category 4 hurricane that ripped through the eastern seaboard is scrambling election preparations in some of the country’s top battlegrounds — adding to the troubles of administering the vote amid conspiracy theories and toxic partisan divides.
The swing states of Georgia and North Carolina were among the most heavily affected by Hurricane Helene, which flooded towns, destroyed buildings, took out power and cell service and forced widespread road closures, with a death toll that has already ticked above 200. The upturning of everyday life has also introduced unanticipated disruptions into the nuts-and-bolts of running a high-stakes presidential election.
Now, election officials are racing to ensure storm-battered residents can safely cast their votes over the next month.
The officials say they are still assessing the full extent of the disruption and just how much they will need to shift course due to Helene. What is already clear one week into the recovery effort: The deadly storm is compounding the intense pressures confronting election officials in the final sprint to Election Day.