In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina election officials confirmed that early voting will commence on October 17, as initially scheduled, even in counties severely affected by flooding. However, the extent of unusable early voting sites and Election Day polling locations remains uncertain due to the storm’s impacts.
Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, highlighted potential obstacles, including polling places compromised by mudslides, inaccessible due to damaged roads, or obstructed by fallen trees.
The state continues to evaluate the damage inflicted by Helene, particularly in the mountainous western regions, which experienced significant flooding. Twelve county elections offices were still closed due to the storm as of Tuesday evening, impeding their ability to process new registrations and handle mail ballots.
North Carolina’s voter registration deadline is October 11, though prospective voters can also register in person at early voting sites between October 17 and November 2. Brinson Bell expressed hope that a determination on whether polling locations need relocation would be made by the end of the week. Temporary early voting sites may be established in tents in parking lots, replicating measures taken after Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Despite the challenges, Brinson Bell assured that the election will proceed as planned, emphasizing the commitment to voter outreach efforts if necessary.
North Carolina’s status as a crucial swing state in the upcoming presidential election adds to the significance of the situation. Both major political figures, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President Harris, have made several visits to the state, with polls indicating a tight competition.
The impact of the storm on voter turnout remains uncertain. Notably, Buncombe County, a Democratic stronghold, was among the hardest-hit areas, although overall, many of the affected counties are conservative and favored Trump in the 2020 election.
Meanwhile, mail-in voting has already commenced in North Carolina. Historically, mail-in ballots constitute a small percentage of votes, with approximately 5% of voters opting for this method in the 2022 election. Approximately 250,000 mail ballots have been distributed for the 2024 election, though it is unclear how many were sent to the storm-affected western regions. Some ballots may have been lost in the flooding, while others remain undelivered due to postal service disruptions.
Voters can track their mail ballots online, request a new mail ballot if necessary, or vote in person if they disregard their requested mail ballot. The distribution of mail ballots faced prior delays due to a North Carolina Supreme Court order to reprint ballots, which excluded Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the presidential race.
The state’s General Assembly has also adjusted the deadline for mail ballots to be received. The previous three-day grace period after Election Day has been eliminated, requiring ballots to be received by county elections boards by 7:30 p.m. on November 5, with exceptions for military and overseas civilian ballots.
Brinson Bell is considering seeking legislative changes, such as allowing voters to drop off mail ballots at polling places on Election Day, to accommodate the disrupted conditions. Additionally, affected voters have a permitted exception to the state’s new voter identification requirements if they cannot provide ID due to a natural disaster occurring within 100 days of the election. This exception applies to voters in the 25 counties under a disaster declaration.
