Disability Rights NC’s non-partisan #AccessTheVoteNC voting team is working diligently to protect the rights of disabled voters. As part of that work our team is closely monitoring Early Voting in Western North Carolina. Despite Helene’s devastation, determined and resilient voting officials are hard at work ensuring people can cast their ballots in this election. They aren’t alone in their commitment; immediately after Helene barreled through WNC, the State Board of Elections sprang into action to provide the resources and support to the undeterred officials whose counties were impacted.
This week DRNC’s Director of Public Policy Corye Dunn spoke with elections officials in WNC. DRNC also has people on the ground in WNC monitoring the voting. “County boards of elections and their staff have been diligent, responsible, and ethical.” Dunn said. “They are doing yeoman’s work to conduct a free and fair election in the midst of great loss. And voters are showing up!”
Next week Dunn will sit down with DRNC Communications Coordinator Jen Andrew for a podcast on what voting in NC looks like this election cycle, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, check out this important reporting from the Carolina Public Press about ongoing voting in WNC, further illustrating the hard work of elections officials and the determination of voters to ensure their vote is cast: Early voters in NC mountains breaking records after Helene