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

[RandySF]

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

[msongs]

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

[jimfields33]

3. I'm sure a lot.

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]

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

[jimfields33]

4. Definitely Asheville.

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

[unc70]

5. Definitely Repub outside Asheville, Boone, college towns

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.