Campaign Watch: Disaster May Affect Voting
Because of Florence, our right to hold our elected officials accountable and choose who represents us is at stake this fall. If we can’t vote, our elected leaders can get away with bowing to polluters and their assaults on our right to clean air and water. In counties most heavily hit by the storm and subsequent flooding, thousands of residents, especially those of low income, are still displaced, and many others are wrestling with less severe flooding damage. Because some post offices and boards of elections remain closed or at reduced service, absentee by mail balloting, early voting, and Election Day voting locations may all be affected.
Meanwhile, regular voter registration for the November 6 election ends October 12, and early voting begins October 17. Community resources which may have been planned for get-out-the-vote drives may be impacted. For a more detailed review of these issues, and the plans underway to address them, see NC Policy Watch’s review.
