The devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on the Southeast have left communities reeling and raised concerns about voter access in crucial battleground states heading into the 2024 presidential election. With the November election less than a month away, both candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, are actively seeking to ensure every eligible vote is counted, especially in regions ravaged by the storms.
In North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene slammed ashore as a Category 4 storm, efforts are focused on helping displaced residents reach polling locations. The storm’s destructive path, particularly in western North Carolina and Georgia, has impacted areas critical to the election outcome. Roughly 17% of North Carolina’s registered voters reside in counties declared disaster zones following Helene, making accessibility a major concern.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections addressed these concerns by approving changes for 13 counties, recognizing the ongoing disruption to infrastructure, polling sites, and postal services. In addition to these changes, state officials are coordinating with FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management to set up crucial resources like portable restrooms, generators, and trailers at over 500 polling places in the western region, encompassing 25 counties.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has also stepped up efforts to support voters in hurricane-hit states. Karoline Leavitt, the campaign’s press secretary, revealed their direct communication with state and local election officials to assess the damage and ensure voter accessibility. The campaign has sent a letter to officials in North Carolina urging them to provide ample polling locations, and Leavitt emphasized the campaign’s commitment to providing transportation for voters requiring assistance.
Florida, another state heavily impacted by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton, is taking a different approach. Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order granting election officials in affected counties greater flexibility to modify their election procedures, including adjusting polling locations and allowing last-minute changes to mail-in ballot addresses.
In Georgia, a key battleground state, Democrats faced a setback when a federal judge ruled against a request to reopen voter registration or extend the deadline in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This decision, which rejected arguments from the NAACP and other groups, could have significant consequences in a state that narrowly voted for Biden in 2020. A similar request in Florida was also rejected by a federal judge. Both judges stated that voters had sufficient time to register for the November election.
While the extent of the Harris campaign’s support for voters in North Carolina and other affected states remains unclear, the focus on ensuring voter participation in the face of devastating natural disasters underscores the crucial role of accessibility in this year’s presidential election. The upcoming weeks will likely witness a continued push to address the challenges faced by voters in storm-affected regions and ensure their voices are heard.