Western North Carolina adapts its voting procedures in the wake of Hurricane Helene

Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts in western North Carolina, the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Monday exercised its emergency power to make special changes to elections procedure in the aftermath of a natural disaster. 

The Board allowed 25 counties in western North Carolina to reschedule their mandatory pre-Election Day absentee ballot meetings. These weekly public meetings were scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1. 

During a press conference on Tuesday hosted by NCSBE, executive director of the NCSBE Karen Brinson Bell said there is time to assist people and recognize there are multiple communities facing different challenges they need to address individually. 

“There may be other actions that the State Board has to take in this emergency situation and exercise those authorities that they have,” Bell said. “We are working as staff, we are working with emergency management, we are working with counties that are affected to determine what will be most beneficial.” 

County election offices in several affected areas remain closed, including those in Avery, Buncombe, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties. According to the State Board, election officials are not aware of any situations where voting equipment or printed ballots were lost or damaged, although assessments are ongoing. 

General counsel for the NCSBE Paul Cox said that if a person is displaced because of the storm, they can request an absentee ballot to be delivered to their new location. Cox also said if the person already requested an absentee ballot, they can change where it will be sent. 

If residents are staying in a county that is affected and planning to vote in person, there will still be options to vote, although they may be in a different location than originally planned, policy director for Common Cause N.C. Ann Webb said.

“Folks should not feel like it's going to be impossible for them to vote,” Webb said. “There are options, and we can help folks figure out the best option for them.”

Webb also said it is important for voters to know that this is the first major election in North Carolina with a voter ID requirement, but if someone is missing an ID due to the impact of the storm, they can use the voter ID exception form which includes a provision for natural disasters. 

Co-director of Democracy N.C. Cheryl Carter said voting in this election is critical, especially when thinking about the impact of local level government on everyday life and hurricane relief. 

Carter said it is also important that students going to school in the western part of the state but from somewhere else that is not impacted should take advantage of early voting on weekends.  

“We're going to be monitoring and determining over the next couple of weeks what are the ways that we can help support and get the best information to the voters in those areas,” Carter also said. 

NCSBE.gov/Helene is updated routinely with information on county board office closures and tips for voters impacted by the storm. Residents can also contact their county board of elections or the State Board of Elections with questions or concerns.

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