North Carolina officials changed voting procedures in response to Hurricane Helen, which caused widespread damage in the key battleground state.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections issued the following statement: Declaration of emergency On Monday, North Carolina changed its voting procedures in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helen. north carolina §163‑27.1 Gives the board emergency powers in the event of a “natural disaster” or “extremely severe weather.” The declaration authorizes county election boards in the 13 affected counties to take “bipartisan majority votes” on some measures.

Some of these measures include changing or adding early voting locations, changing the times voters can use the site, and making space in one precinct adjacent to another while keeping voting and tabulation materials separate. This includes things such as. County commissioners will also create provisions to accept absentee ballots from next of kin or designated legal guardians for school district residents who are unable to submit their own ballots.

Such absentee ballots can be submitted to the voter’s county by 7:30 p.m. ET on Election Day. Alternatively, it may be received through a precinct in another county, provided it has been submitted to the county board of elections or state board by that time and forwarded to the voter’s county board the day before the county election. Masu. Provisions regarding the destruction and reissuance of ballots and hardening of ballots are also mentioned.

The proclamation also authorizes county election boards to deploy “bipartisan assistance teams” of registered North Carolina voters to “assist with absentee ballot requests and absentee voting.” Disaster evacuation centers and other disaster relief locations; Ordinary people. ”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said more than 1,700 North Carolinians were unable to return home and were being sheltered through the agency’s Interim Shelter Assistance Program. press release From Monday.

The members of the State Board of Elections are was popular The rules will be changed as necessary to prevent voter disenfranchisement, the Associated Press said. Democratic Committee Chairman Alan Hirsch said the committee is focused on meeting election deadlines while ensuring “no one is denied the right to vote because of these logistical issues.” .

Republican board member Stacey Eggers IV said the rules are “tailored to give county commissions flexibility to meet their specific needs.” (Related: ‘Excuse me?’: Doocy hits back, slams KJP for spreading ‘misinformation’)

Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Saturday that North Carolina is a state Republicans must win in November and suggested the party should get involved to ensure sympathetic voters are not disenfranchised.

“Why this is important is because 20,000 votes determine the winner in Wisconsin,” McCarthy said. “And if President Trump doesn’t win North Carolina, he can’t win the presidency. So why not guarantee these votes? Do you still have ballots? Are you checking to see if you can mail them in? ”

NEW: Kevin McCarthy says Hurricane Helen could cost Trump the 2024 election and asks why no one is doing anything to protect Western North Carolina’s votes.

Ingraham: “Those 40,000 votes, those people…we need a court case to make sure their votes are counted.”

McCarthy: “20,000 votes…” pic.twitter.com/wGVNfIkJ3T

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 5, 2024

The affected counties, excluding Buncombe County, are: I voted The Washington Post noted that Trump endorsed him in the 2020 election. Trump won the state by less than 80,000 votes, making it the narrowest victory of any state this year.

Helen will allow many voters to bypass the state’s photo ID requirements. north carolina law I allow it Voters will be required to fill out a provisional ballot if they are unable to provide ID due to a “natural disaster” that occurs within 100 days of the election, with the condition that they fill out an affidavit in advance.