Powerful hurricanes have caused havoc in the southeast, leaving election officials worried that some ballots may be lost in the mail. The upcoming general election is becoming more complicated due to the impact of the hurricanes, particularly in North Carolina, a battleground state where communication and power are still unreliable in some areas. Hurricane Helene led to hundreds of deaths across six states, disrupting election plans as polling centers were damaged and communication channels were severed.
Mary Beth Tipton, the director of the board of elections in North Carolina’s Yancey County, expressed concerns about precincts being washed away and absentee ballots potentially lost. The county, which strongly supported Trump in the past, had mailed out hundreds of absentee ballots just before the flooding began. Similarly, county election officials in Florida are facing challenges after Hurricane Milton made landfall on the western coast. Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections in Florida’s Pasco County, emphasized the need to survive the storm and assess damages in order to adapt and continue with election preparations.
The disruptions caused by the hurricanes prompted statewide officials to take action to address the challenges faced by election administrators. This included providing greater flexibility to make last-minute changes to election plans in response to the devastation. In North Carolina, election directors are struggling with limited cell service and power, hindering their ability to coordinate workers and update voters on early voting plans. Robert Inman, the elections director for Haywood County, described the damage as “apocalyptic” in some areas, where polling places have been rendered unusable.
Cliff Marr, the elections director in North Carolina’s Polk County, also highlighted communication challenges and uncertainty surrounding absentee ballots that may have been lost during the storm. The impact of the hurricanes has raised concerns about the integrity of the election process in these affected areas. Statewide efforts are being made to support election officials in adapting their plans and ensuring that voters are informed and able to participate in the upcoming election. Despite the challenges posed by the hurricanes, election administrators are working tirelessly to navigate the obstacles and ensure that the democratic process continues smoothly.
