NC Special Election Voters Encouraged to Use Early Voting as Hurricane Dorian Approaches
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North Carolina voters in two special Congressional elections scheduled for next Tuesday are being urged by state officials to cast early ballots ahead of a potential landfall from Hurricane Dorian. WRAL has more:
North Carolina election officials are encouraging voters to cast ballots during an early-voting period to avoid possible disruptions from Hurricane Dorian.
The state Board of Elections said the early voting period for the Sept. 10 elections ends on Friday.
Races on the ballot include elections for the 3rd and 9th congressional districts. The 3rd congressional district includes most of North Carolina’s eastern coast.
Most early voting locations [were] closed for Labor Day, but they are scheduled to remain open Tuesday through Friday.
The state’s emergency management director, Michael Sprayberry, said during a news conference Sunday that North Carolina could begin feeling Dorian’s effects as soon as Wednesday night.
Gov. Roy Cooper said the state is likely to see heavy rains, winds and flooding from Dorian even if the storm weakens as it churns toward the state.
“And I urge everyone to take it seriously. The time to prepare is now,” Cooper said Sunday after participating in a video conference with [the] President and the governors of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Cooper said the hurricane already was generating dangerous riptides along North Carolina’s coastline. Cooper said law enforcement officers and shelter workers were “on alert” Sunday in case evacuation orders are necessary.
North Carolina officials are undoubtedly anxious to get these elections completed, given how long the two seats have been vacant (and the legal drama in the 9th District regarding absentee ballots). Still, given Dorian’s size and potential destructiveness, the “better safe than sorry” approach of urging early voting is extremely prudent. Time will tell what happens if Dorian creates havoc with next Tuesday’s election – but for now, the focus is on preparing for the storm and hoping everyone stays out of harm’s way. Stay tuned …