South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards has issued a call to action for citizens in Western North Carolina, urging them to prepare for the upcoming election despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene. "Although many Western North Carolinians are frantically putting their lives back together, an important election is coming up soon that we should not forget. I urge everyone to now plan how you will exercise our greatest liberty," said Edwards.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) has outlined steps and provided resources to assist voters affected by the hurricane. Information on absentee voting, polling location changes, and other election-related services can be found on the NCSBE website.

For those displaced by the hurricane, absentee ballots can be requested through the North Carolina Absentee Ballot Portal. If a ballot needs to be sent to a new address, voters should contact their county board of elections. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day.

Early voting will commence on Thursday, October 17 and conclude at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2. Voters can find early voting sites and schedules on the NCSBE website.

Today marks the deadline for voter registration or updating registration details due to displacement from Hurricane Helene. Online registration is available through the NCDMV website for those with an N.C. driver's license or ID.

In light of potential loss of photo IDs during the hurricane, affected individuals can complete a Photo ID Exception Form at their local voting site or include it with their absentee ballot. Options for obtaining a valid photo ID include visiting county board of elections offices or local NCDMV offices where free IDs are available.

Further information about North Carolina’s photo ID requirements and acceptable forms of identification can be accessed at BringItNC.gov.