Voters in storm-ravaged areas of the Southeast could face new hurdles at the polls this year after being hit by Hurricanes Helen and Milton. The rapid succession of disasters has led to a flurry of new support from states, political parties, and various organizations. They may also conduct campaigns themselves to expand voter access to the polls and ensure that their votes are counted.
Efforts in the hurricane-hit southern states are taking very different forms, but the common goal is that candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remain in a virtual dead heat with a narrow margin. The goal is to increase participation and participation in the 2024 presidential election. One month until election day.
In North Carolina, the focus is on helping displaced people access voting places in the wake of Hurricane Helen, which made landfall last month as a Category 4 storm, killing more than 220 people and causing billions of dollars in damage. is placed.
Most of the damage from the storm was concentrated in western North Carolina and Georgia, two competitive states that could play a key role in determining the next president. Michael Bitzer, a politics and history professor at Catawba College, previously told Fox News that about 17% of registered voters in North Carolina live in counties designated as disaster zones in the aftermath of Helen.
'We can't wait until the last moment': North Carolina congressman warns of voter access in Helen-hit areas
FEMA Administrator DeAnne Criswell spoke at a White House press conference. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
So while the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted last week to approve changes for 13 counties in the region, it said infrastructure, polling places and access to postal services would remain “severely disrupted” through Election Day. It is considered. State election officials also partnered with FEMA and North Carolina to install portable toilets, generators and trailers to assist more than 500 polling places in blighted areas across the western region of the state and about 25 counties. It said it would work with the state Office of Emergency Management.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign also hinted at new efforts to get voters to the ballot box in hurricane-hit states. Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said in a Fox News interview Monday that the campaign is in contact with state and local election officials in the Southeast to assess the damage and ensure voters have access to their ballots. He said he was taking
Levitt told Fox News that his campaign leadership sent a letter to local state and local officials in North Carolina saying, “We need to provide as many accessible voting locations as possible locally.'' '' and added: “Our campaign is looking at ways to provide transportation for voters who need to get to the polls and ensure access to the ballot box.”
In Florida, which was hit by both hurricanes Helen and Milton, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order requiring election officials in hard-hit counties to change their address for voting places and mail-in ballots. It granted greater flexibility for changes to election procedures, including requests. Changed at the last moment.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, a federal judge last week ruled against ordering the state to restart voter registration processes or extend voter registration deadlines in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, rejecting arguments from the NAACP's Georgia convention. Democrats suffered a blow. , the Georgia People's Agenda Coalition, and the New Georgia Project argued that their right to register was unfairly taken away due to the disruption caused by the storm.
The ruling could have a major impact on Georgia, a key battleground state that narrowly elected Biden by just 12,000 votes in 2020. Chapter of the League of Women Voters (which dismissed a similar claim brought by the state of Florida under the influence of “Milton”).
Federal judges in both states argued that voters had ample time to register for the November election.
Biden spoke to reporters in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton in Florida. (Getty Images)
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What does the Harris campaign offer or are offering voters in North Carolina and other states affected by natural disasters in terms of transportation and options, or what exactly the Trump campaign is offering? It is unclear whether he will be able to take any action.
Campaign officials did not respond to Fox News' requests for comment.
