Former President Donald Trump's campaign hopes Hurricane Helen won't have a devastating impact on next month's election as officials work to ensure voters can cast their ballots in two affected battleground states. This is because I am working overtime.
President Trump's adviser said of the impact of Hurricanes Helen and Milton that hit the Southeast: “We certainly know that voting behavior could be affected, so we're working around the clock to make sure we mitigate that impact.'' “We are working on it systematically,” he told the Post. .
Hurricane Helen, which made landfall on September 26, caused particular damage in North Carolina and Georgia. It could be decided by just a few thousand or even a few hundred votes on November 5th.
“We are in contact with local authorities and we have people on the ground gathering information on everything from road closures to housing conditions, power outages, postcode delivery outages and the impact of debris on the roads.” added.
Officials in both states say they are taking steps to ensure elections go smoothly, with the North Carolina State Board of Elections expanding early voting in affected areas and Georgia's Brad Raffens Secretary of State Perger announced that he would coordinate with local election officials.
While this devastation may lead to lower turnout compared to past presidential elections, the good news is that residents will have more options to make their voices heard between early voting and mail-in voting.
Unlike past cycles, both Republicans and Democrats are encouraging their supporters to vote as much as possible, but flooding and road closures may result in the loss of some mail-in ballots and those who voted in person early. may have difficulty getting to the polling place.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley last week celebrated the Trump campaign's push to expand early voting in storm-ravaged areas of North Carolina.
“North Carolinians who suffered the onslaught of Hurricane Helen cannot afford to be disenfranchised, and that means expanding early voting locations in affected areas,” Whatley said in a statement.
“We are pleased that the North Carolina State Board of Elections has endorsed the Republican-led Legislature’s bipartisan plan. Expanding voter access to hurricane-impacted areas. We will continue to monitor the situation, hold election officials accountable, defend voting access for hurricane victims, and stand ready to litigate if election officials prohibit expanded voter access. I am. ”
It is unclear how the storm will affect the final outcome of the 2024 campaign, but Trump's campaign is optimistic that anger over the federal government's slow initial response to Helen in red-tinged western North Carolina will lead to a boost for the Republican candidate. I'm watching. 16 electors from the Tar Heel State.
“People on the ground, especially in western North Carolina, are very, very angry,” the adviser said. For President Trump. ”
