Battleground state voting data reveals over 200K votes cast in red counties impacted by hurricane

Voting figures from North Carolina – a pivotal battleground authorities – bespeak that contempt nan terrible effect of Hurricane Helene, much than 200,000 votes person already been formed successful counties that traditionally thin Republican.

Early voting successful North Carolina group a statewide grounds of complete 350,000 ballots formed connected Oct. 17. 

Over 2.8 cardinal ballots person since been formed successful North Carolina, which represents 36% of nan registered voters organization successful nan state, according to nan North Carolina Board of Elections (NCSBE).

Of nan ballots cast, 2.5 cardinal were early votes, while 151,000 were absentee ballots.

The information represents an summation successful early voting since nan aforesaid clip successful 2016, 8 days earlier nan election, which saw 1.6 cardinal ballots cast. However, 2020 saw 3.1 cardinal early votes during that clip successful nan cycle, successful large portion owed to nan COVID-19 pandemic.

DEMS NEED TO RAMP UP EARLY VOTING EFFORTS TO MATCH GOP MOMENTUM IN NORTH CAROLINA: ANALYST

People hold extracurricular an early voting tract connected Oct.17, 2024, successful Asheville. Several counties affected by Hurricane Helene saw a ample turnout for nan first time of early voting successful occidental North Carolina.  (Melissa Sue Gerrits)

Data besides shows that 1.42% much Democrats than Republicans person formed their vote, arsenic of Sunday.

After Hurricane Helene made a deadly expanse crossed occidental North Carolina, concerns complete ballot container entree prompted authorities lawmakers to adjust their voting rules up of early voting successful nan state. 

BALANCE OF POWER: HELENE COULD SHIFT POLITICAL WINDS TOWARD TRUMP, NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS SAY

The NCSBE identified 13 counties arsenic being astir impacted by Hurricane Helene, but Karen Brinson Bell, executive head of nan authorities Board of Elections, told reporters connected Friday that nan affected areas are seeing "tremendous turnout."

An aerial position of destroyed and damaged buildings successful nan aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding connected Oct. 8 successful Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama)

Since early voting started, complete 218,000 person already been formed successful nan occidental counties, contempt harm from nan disastrous storm.

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To guarantee voting entree for residents successful nan affected areas, North Carolina lawmakers passed a measure connected Thursday to require that nan 13 counties unfastened 1 early voting tract per 30,000 individuals.

Those identified successful occidental North Carolina arsenic astir impacted person seen tens of thousands of votes cast, arsenic of Sunday: Ashe [7,541], Avery [3,823], Buncombe [78,645], Haywood [19,079], Henderson [31,158], Madison [6,036], McDowell [11,205], Mitchell [4,224], Polk [7,270], Rutherford [14,873], Transylvania [11,804], Watauga [16,993], and Yancey [5,477].