Hurricane Helene Sparks Voter Registration Deadline Extensions in Southern States

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Written By Richard Perdomo

As voter registration deadlines approach, Democrats and civil rights groups are urging election officials in states affected by Hurricane Helene to give voters more time to register.

On Friday, a South Carolina judge extended that state’s registration deadline to October 14, but it’s unclear if other hard-hit states will follow suit.

In North Carolina, a key battleground state, officials have no immediate plans to extend their October 11 registration deadline, according to Patrick Gannon, spokesperson for the State Board of Elections. However, this may change when the Legislature meets next week to discuss potential adjustments to election laws.

The storm’s devastating impact, particularly around Asheville, has left many roads and bridges destroyed, with numerous fatalities reported.

Gannon said that voter registration forms postmarked by the deadline will be accepted through October 16. Additionally, eligible voters can register in person starting October 17 during North Carolina’s early voting period.

In Georgia, another crucial swing state, over 40 advocacy groups have appealed to Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging them to extend the registration deadline in affected counties by at least a week beyond the upcoming Monday deadline.

The groups argue that the storm’s destruction has severely hindered voters’ ability to register, whether online, by mail, or in person.

“If ever there was a time to extend the deadline, this is it,” said Amir Badat, a voting rights attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, one of the organizations seeking the extension.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s office is currently assessing the hurricane’s impact on elections offices and ensuring that polling locations are operational, but as of Friday, no deadline extensions had been announced.

Similarly, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund sent a letter to Florida officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Cord Byrd, requesting an extension. DeSantis has issued an executive order modifying some election procedures for 13 affected counties, such as changes to early voting locations, but it did not include an extension for registration.

South Carolina’s extension came after the state Democratic Party filed a lawsuit. The Election Commission there noted that it needed a court order to extend the deadline, as it lacked the authority to make changes independently.

 

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