Residents in North Carolina have been offered several options to help them vote in the upcoming presidential election as they continue to recover from a catastrophic hurricane.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) on Monday announced emergency provisions for voters in 13 counties impacted by Hurricane Helene.
In a unanimous vote, the bipartisan board approved an extensive set of emergency provisions designed to facilitate voting for western North Carolinians most affected by Helene.
The actions help the state adapt to the circumstances and make sure every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot in a safe and secure manner, according to officials.
“Put simply, these measures will help eligible voters in the affected areas cast their ballot either in-person or by mail.” Karen Brinson-Bell, executive director of NCSBE, said. “And they will help county boards of elections in western North Carolina administer this election under extraordinarily difficult conditions.”
Additionally, Bell also reassured residents that early voting will still be held as planned.
“We have every intention of starting early voting on Oct. 17 in all 100 counties,” Brinson-Bell stated.
Absentee Voting
Voters in the affected areas can still request an absentee ballot online through the state’s absentee ballot portal.
Additionally, local board of elections offices can provide absentee ballots for those voters in affected areas who need replacements sent to a new location.
The absentee ballots must be turned into a polling location or county board of elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Voting with Lost Identification
North Carolina residents may have lost important documents such as personal identification cards during the storm. According to officials, a photo ID exception form will come with the absentee ballot.
The form can be signed and sent back with their absentee ballot. Residents should check the box for “Exception 3: Victim of a Natural Disaster” on the form.
There are also services for those who need a replacement ID card.
“If you are a registered voter, [the county board of election office] can take your photo and print an acceptable ID on the spot,” according to the website.
Voter Registration
Voter registration is still available until Friday, Oct. 11. For residents with a valid state driver’s license, they can register with the Department of Voter Vehicles.
Residents should also note that if they moved sometime after Oct. 6, they should vote using the address for where they lived on Oct. 6.
All county board of elections offices have been reopened throughout the state following the storm.
By the Numbers
The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Helene a disaster on Sept. 28. The designated disaster area includes 25 counties in North Carolina.
The NCSBE has shared data on registered voter and absentee ballot data through Oct. 6 from North Carolina’s counties in the designated Helene disaster area.
The total number of registered voters currently stands at 1,277,579.
According to the data, 43,804 absentee ballots have been sent.
Of those absentee ballots that have been sent, 3,312 have been returned while 40,492 remain outstanding.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.