NORTH CAROLINA, USA — North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) officials said they are ready for early, in-person voting to begin Thursday, even after Hurricane Helene devastated western portions of the state.
On Thursday, 419 early voting sites will open across North Carolina. 76 of those are in the western counties hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. Election officials say 80 early voting sites were planned for those areas before the storm.
"The devastation in our western counties and responding to that has really heightened the work we have to do," Karen Brinson Bell, NCSBE Executive Director, said Tuesday.
Brinson Bell said NCSBE representatives are "proud" of how many voting sites are operable in the damaged area. She said, "We lost just a few, despite extensive damage, loss of power, water, internet and phone service, and the washing out of roads throughout the region."
Election officials also addressed concerns that the state's handling of the storm would lead to limited polling access, possibly impacting the election's outcome.
To that, Brinson Bell stated, "We have heard accusations that we’re 'partisan-ly' handling this situation and that’s simply not true."
On Oct. 7, the Board of Elections passed measures to make voting more accessible for residents impacted by the hurricane. Those measures include allowing residents of the 25 counties identified for federal disaster relief to cast their absentee ballots at any early voting site across the state.
Brinson Bell emphasized Tuesday that the NCSBE works for every voter of every party, saying, "We worked with our bipartisan board and the legislature to craft what is an effective response. We did not consult with any campaign. They need to focus on campaigning. We will be the election officials focused on election administration."
People who missed the registration deadline in North Carolina may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. To do so, bring official proof of address. All voters will be asked for photo ID at their polling location. Sample ballots are available through the NCSBE's voter search tool.