The impact of Hurricane Milton on early voting is raising concerns in swing states still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
States like Georgia and North Carolina, critical for the upcoming 2024 election, may experience disruptions in early voting and mail-in ballot processes due to severe weather.
Hurricane Helene has already wreaked havoc on infrastructure, forcing officials into a race against time to restore essential services. With another storm approaching, the situation remains precarious.
In North Carolina, early in-person voting kicks off on October 17, but the deadline for requesting absentee ballots is October 29. As the voting date approaches, many residents are still without access to their homes, leading to over 1,000 people currently housed in FEMA-organized temporary accommodations.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s early voting starts even earlier, on October 15. Governor Brian Kemp reported that over 40 counties in the state were impacted by Helene.
Getty Images
Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, reassured voters that early voting would proceed as planned despite the hurricanes’ impact. In a press conference, she emphasized that early voting will begin on October 17 in all 100 counties, although it might look different in the 13 most affected areas.
Bell stated, “We’re committed to providing robust voting options for both absentee and Election Day voting. Our focus remains on ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot safely and securely.”
Across the U.S., early voting is already in full swing, with over 3 million ballots cast, according to NBC News. North Carolinians have submitted more than 30,000 mail-in ballots, and Georgians over 1,000 so far.
Former President Donald Trump holds a narrow lead in both states, each contributing 16 Electoral College votes. Having won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, he is eyeing a comeback but needs to triumph in at least one Midwestern state that Joe Biden claimed in 2020 for a shot at a second term.