Some experts have said that the hurricanes could cause voter numbers to drop – and impacts of Helene have already prompted a few early polling stations in western North Carolina to close. But more North Carolina residents turned out to vote on the first day of early voting than they did in 2020.
Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Michael T. Morley, who studies natural disasters and election law, to understand how these recent storms could complicate voting in the presidential election.
Some experts have said that the hurricanes could cause voter numbers to drop – and impacts of Helene have already prompted a few early polling stations in western North Carolina to close. But more North Carolina residents turned out to vote on the first day of early voting than they did in 2020.
Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Michael T. Morley, who studies natural disasters and election law, to understand how these recent storms could complicate voting in the presidential election.
A home in Manasota Key, Fla., that was damaged by Hurricane Milton is seen on Oct. 13, 2024.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
What are the major issues that hurricanes can create ahead of an election?
A hurricane or natural disaster makes an election tremendously more challenging for both election officials and voters on various practical levels.
Blue dot signs are going up across Omaha to show support for Kamala Harris. Heavily Republican Nebraska splits its electoral votes, and Omaha cast its single vote for Dems in 2008 and 2020.
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