Hurricane Helene Disrupts North Carolina's Election Readiness Ahead of Presidential Vote

North Carolina election officials are rushing to ensure over 7 million voters can participate in the upcoming presidential election despite widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. The state faces unprecedented challenges just weeks before deciding between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, with twelve county election offices closed due to the storm.

North Carolina election officials are in a race against time to ensure that the state's more than 7 million registered voters can cast their ballots in the upcoming presidential election. The urgency arises after Hurricane Helene caused extensive flooding and damage in the western part of the state.

The state is of crucial importance, as it is one of seven 'battleground' states expected to be key in deciding whether Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the next President of the United States.

'The destruction is unprecedented, and this level of uncertainty, this close to Election Day, is daunting,' said Karen Brinson-Bell, executive director of the state's Board of Elections, on Tuesday. Twelve county election offices in western North Carolina are currently closed, with the voter registration deadline looming on October 11. Fortunately, no voting equipment or ballots were damaged.

The state expects to have a complete assessment of the storm's impact on election facilities by mid to late week. The Board of Elections has set up a dedicated website for storm-related voting information and is collaborating with the U.S. Postal Service to ensure absentee ballots are received. Additionally, voters can continue to register on-site with proof of address.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and residents displaced, with some town and village centers wiped out by unexpected flooding. North Carolina, targeted by Republicans with new restrictive voting laws, is a state Democrats hope to flip in favor of Harris, marking the first potential Democratic win since 2008.

Asked about the potential impact on voter faith in the election results, Brinson-Bell reassured that traditional precinct poll books and post-election verification checks would still be relied upon. 'It's not going to stop how we do elections. Just because there's been a hurricane, we might have to do it a little differently,' she stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)