Over 90% of early voting sites in western North Carolina are scheduled to open as originally planned starting Thursday, the State Board of Elections has announced.
The 25 western North Carolina counties in the Helene federal disaster area planned a combined 80 early voting sites before Helene struck. Now, 75 sites are scheduled to open in those counties Thursday, which is only five fewer than originally planned.
“This is absolutely outstanding that our county boards of elections have pulled this off in western North Carolina, given the devastation and destruction left by Helene,” said State Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell during a press briefing last week. “We will be ready even in western North Carolina thanks to the extremely hard work of county election officials across the state and dedicated state board officials as well.”
Elections officials continue to work with partners at North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA to help secure portable restrooms, generators and internet access at a handful of early voting sites to make sure that voting is possible in all 100 counties.
As far as Election Day operations go, officials are in the final stages of addressing damages and needs to the 540 polling places in the 25-county area. Similarly, state and federal partners will assist in securing tents, trailers, portable bathrooms, generators, and whatever else is needed to open as many polling places as possible on Election Day.
All county boards were fully reopened last Monday when the impacted boards began resending absentee ballots, fulfilling new requests and requests for a resend from any voter that contacted them. Also on Monday, the State Board of Elections voted unanimously to pass a resolution that modifies election procedures for 13 counties hit hardest.
With the goal of providing support and flexibility to impacted counties in order to ensure voters are able to cast their ballot, the North Carolina General Assembly worked directly with the State Board of Elections this week to expand voting procedures to 25 impacted counties. In bipartisan legislation signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Roy Cooper, $5 million is provided to the State Board of Elections as part of the disaster relief aid.
SEE ALSO: Cooper Signs Disaster Recovery Act
“We appreciate the efforts by the legislature to incorporate what the State Board had recognized into the legislation and also to provide substantial funding so that we can carry out this work,” added Brinson Bell.
On Thursday, the Buncombe County Board of Elections approved new times and locations for early voting under the authority of the emergency resolution approved by the NCSBE. The Board announced 10 early voting locations that will be open from 9 am to 5 pm from Oct. 17 up until Election Day.
“We’ve got a new early voting plan,” said Buncombe Board of Elections Chair Jake Quinn. “Please everybody, spread the word.”
Buncombe County is in the initial stages of assessing the status of its 80 Election Day polling places and contacting poll workers.