North Carolina is feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene as the state is left devastated by the flood and wind damages, but with a national election right around the corner, should the state change up the rules for voting?
On Monday, the North Carolina State Board of Elections unanimously passed new voting rules due to the major damages of the hurricane. According to the board of elections, they’re committed to provide areas for early voting and accessible Election Day voting locations to make sure “no one is denied the right to vote because of these logistical problems” from a natural disaster.
According tot Republican board member Stacy Eggers IV, “I’m generally very hesitant to make changes to the normal running of our election. But these have been tailored to give flexibility to the county boards to meet those specific needs.”
The board approved changes which would allow voters easier access to absentee ballots and would extend the deadline turn in the absentee ballots until 7:30pm on the night of Election Day. NBC News reported each county will also have the option to modify “early voting hours and schedules if a bipartisan vote is obtained. They will be able to move polling sites as necessary and even move them into other counties if necessary.”
Originally sites that were planned to be used for voting locations may have been damaged by the hurricane or converted into shelters, ultimately rendering these locations inaccessible for voting.
The new changes would also allow absentee ballots to be dropped off at any polling location accessible and Fox News reported that many teams will be going to shelters to help facilitate registering Americans to vote as well as collecting ballots.