North Carolina

RandySF

(71,149 posts) Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:43 PM Sep 30

How Helene's destruction could affect voting in North Carolina's election

DISRUPTIONS TO POSTAL SERVICE
On Sunday, the U.S. Postal Service announced it had temporarily suspended services in much of Western North Carolina, including any areas with ZIP codes starting with 286, 287, 288 and 289.

POLLING PLACES FOR EARLY VOTING
Flooding and destruction may make polling places unusable as election workers prepare to begin in-person early voting on Oct. 17.

VOTER ID
Anyone affected by Helene can fill out an affidavit, either in-person at a polling place or via absentee ballot, saying that they have been a victim of a natural disaster and are unable to produce their ID.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP?
A law passed last year prohibits the use of any private donations for election administration. Counties are also still accepting volunteers to work the polls during early voting and Election Day.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article293249624.html#storylink=cpy

5 replies

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How Helene's destruction could affect voting in North Carolina's election (Original Post) RandySF Sep 30 OP

one wonders how much mail in process or transit was destroyed nt msongs Sep 30 #1

I'm sure a lot. jimfields33 Sep 30 #3

Isn't western N.C. mostly Democratic? 3Hotdogs Sep 30 #2

Definitely Asheville. jimfields33 Sep 30 #4

Definitely Repub outside Asheville, Boone, college towns unc70 Sep 30 #5

msongs

(70,275 posts)

1. one wonders how much mail in process or transit was destroyed nt

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:45 PM

Sep 30

jimfields33

(19,312 posts)

3. I'm sure a lot.

Reply to msongs (Reply #1)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:56 PM

Sep 30

Most mail are held in large buildings with crates of mail on pallets. I’m sure some building were flooded out beyond the pallet height. Voters will have to call and see if their ballot was sent and or arrived. New Orleans went through this and the election was completed.

3Hotdogs

(13,560 posts)

2. Isn't western N.C. mostly Democratic?

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:55 PM

Sep 30

jimfields33

(19,312 posts)

4. Definitely Asheville.

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Reply #2)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:57 PM

Sep 30

Voters will need to call eventually to see what to do. They will have procedures.

unc70

(6,330 posts)

5. Definitely Repub outside Asheville, Boone, college towns

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Reply #2)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 05:09 PM

Sep 30

Most of the NC mountains and western Piedmont are very right wing, except Asheville and a couple of small university towns. Almost everything west of I-77. You should assume that most NC rural and small town voters are Repubs.

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