The election in North Carolina was already fraught with Republican-led lawsuits, voter roll purges and strict new photo ID requirements. Then came Hurricane Helene.
The flooding destruction across the western part of the state has dramatically upped the stakes for election integrity, forcing officials to scramble to create an emergency plan for missing absentee ballots and voter IDs, destroyed voting precincts and general confusion.
Five county election offices remain closed, many towns still lack mail, cell service and power, and people are still missing. The scope of the devastation may take months to fully assess — but the election is now only one month away. And North Carolina’s Oct. 11 voter registration deadline is rapidly approaching.