ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Early in-person voting in North Carolina commenced strongly on Thursday, especially in mountainous regions affected by Hurricane Helene. Despite the storm’s devastation, local residents demonstrated a fierce commitment to participate in the upcoming elections.
Over 400 early voting sites opened for a 17-day period, with nearly all of the 80 anticipated locations in the 25 hardest-hit western counties operational, according to State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. She acknowledged the efforts of election workers amidst the recovery efforts from the severe weather.
Brinson Bell stated, “Thousands of North Carolinians have faced significant losses due to this storm. Their lives are forever altered, but the right to vote remains intact for western North Carolinians during this crucial election.”
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across Appalachia, claiming at least 246 lives, more than half of which were in North Carolina, making it the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Buncombe County, home to Asheville, suffered numerous casualties, and many residents are still without power or clean water.
Nonetheless, local determination to vote was evident. At the South Buncombe Library in Asheville, around 60 individuals braved chilly weather, queuing before polls opened at 9 a.m.
Among them was 77-year-old Joyce Rich, who emphasized the urgency of voting following the storm. “We decided, let’s just get it finished,” she remarked, highlighting the unpredictable nature of circumstances post-storm.
In Polk County, which also felt the storm’s impact, early voting locations saw significant turnout, with election workers directing traffic due to the influx of voters.
Joanne Hemmingway, who had ten days without power, expressed gratitude that election officials managed to facilitate early voting despite the challenges posed by Helene.
“I never even considered not voting,” she affirmed.
In Henderson County, traffic lanes were adjusted to accommodate election attendees, with golf carts transporting voters to the sole voting site there. Voter Michael Dirks conveyed his anticipation for voting, viewing it as a step towards returning to normalcy.
Wake County reported wait times exceeding an hour at several polling locations on Thursday. Favorable weather conditions contributed to what Brinson Bell described as “terrific” turnout, hinting at the potential for record-breaking first-day early voting across the state.
Early in-person voting will continue through November 2. In the previous general election, over 3.6 million ballots—65% of total ballots—were cast during early voting. In the 2016 elections, that figure was 62%.
Officials are still assessing polling locations for Election Day in the 25 counties affected by the hurricane, with most sites expected to be operational. Tent requests have been made for about a dozen locations.
Traditional absentee voting commenced weeks ago, with more than 67,000 ballots returned. Residents displaced by Helene can submit their absentee ballots at any early voting site statewide.
The significance of early voting is underscored by heightened campaign activities. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz made campaign appearances in North Carolina, while Republican leaders continued their bus tour in regions impacted by the storm.
The North Carolina ballot will feature races for governor, attorney general, and various statewide positions, with all U.S. House and General Assembly seats up for reelection.
