NC tweaks voting rules in counties ravaged by Helene
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North Carolina's elections board unanimously approved emergency measures Monday that will change some voting rules in 13 western counties ravaged by Hurricane Helene.
Why it matters: In much of western North Carolina, roads remain closed, internet and cell service is still sparse, tens of thousands are still without power and the death toll is still climbing.
- "I can't even think about a time frame for how long it's going to take to recover," Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said Monday, per CNN.
The big picture: In a state where elections here are won on razor-thin margins, a significant chunk of North Carolina's eligible voters — 8% — are located in those counties where voting may be more challenging, or administering the election may be especially difficult.
The latest: All 100 of the state's county elections boards are up and running as of Monday, state elections board executive director Karen Brinson Bell said. All county boards also seem to be able to deliver and receive mail, she added.
- Still, "infrastructure, accessibility to voting sites and postal services remain severely disrupted" in 13 counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Driving the news: The state board worked with county elections boards, public safety and emergency management officials and the U.S. Postal Service to come up with rules that could ease some of the challenges boards will face in administering this year's election, as well as ensure voters who live in areas devastated by Helene are not disenfranchised.
- "These measures were put in place to ensure the victims of Helene can vote in the upcoming election and provide election officials in the hardest hit areas the tools they need to conduct a secure election under extraordinarily difficult conditions," Brinson Bell said in a statement.
Zoom in: The new rules will allow county elections boards to vote to modify early voting days, hours and sites and open a polling place in another county if needed.
- Boards can also vote to allow any voter in the county to cast a ballot at the county elections office, "in the event voters are unable to get to their Election Day precinct voting site or are unsure of their voting location." County offices could also be used as early voting sites.
- Voters — or their near relative or legal guardian — will be allowed to request and receive absentee ballots in person at their county board of elections through Nov. 4.
What's next: The state legislature will return to Raleigh this week to vote on a disaster relief package.
- The board requested around $2 million from the state legislature to support county efforts and response, election officials said Monday.