North Carolina election officials are struggling to make sure the state’s more than 7 million registered voters can cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election, as flooding from Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage in the western part of the state.
North Carolina is one of seven “battlefield” states expected to determine republican donald trump Or Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris Is the next President of the United States.
“The devastation is unprecedented, and this level of uncertainty so close to Election Day is challenging,” Karen Brinson-Bell, executive director of the state elections board, said Tuesday.
Twelve county election offices in western North Carolina are closed due to the storm, he said, with the Oct. 11 voter registration deadline fast approaching. But no voting equipment or ballots were damaged in the storm, he said.
He said the state expects to have a full assessment of the storm’s impact on election facilities and other issues by the middle to end of the week.
“It’s too early to know, but our intention is to open early voting in all 100 counties on October 17,” Brinson-Bell said.
He said the board has set up a website with voting information related to Helen, is working with the U.S. Postal Service to ensure receipt of absentee ballots and to allow voters to register on the site with proof of address. Will continue.
He said about 250,000 mail-in ballots have been requested statewide.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and residents displaced in western North Carolina; Some town and village centers were destroyed by unexpected flooding following the storm.
North Carolina is one of several states targeted by Republicans with new restrictive voting laws. Democrats hope to endorse Harris in the state in November, which would be the first time since 2008 that North Carolina voters supported a Democrat.
Asked whether the change, turmoil and uncertainty would affect people’s confidence in election results, Brinson-Bell said the state would still rely on precinct poll books and post-election verification checks, even if voters were registered as normal. Have to vote separately.
“It’s not going to stop the way we choose. Just because a storm has come, we have to do it a little differently.”