(UPDATE: The table below has been updated to clarify that voters in the affected counties can request, receive, and vote their absentee ballot at their county board of elections office through the day before election day. This functionally creates an additional day or two (if the board office is open on Sunday) of early voting.)
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) and the North Carolina General Assembly both approved changes in election law for the counties affected by Hurricane Helene. The SBE passed its resolution on October 7, and the General Assembly passed the “Disaster Recovery Act of 2024” (a broader bill that included election law changes) on October 9.
As seen in the table below, the two have a lot in common. The General Assembly’s bill covers more counties and does some things the SBE is not allowed to do (such as budget funds). As a summary, the table does not completely cover all the changes.
The bill allows any portions of the SBE’s resolution “not inconsistent with the provisions of this act” to remain in effect. The changes in the resolution and the bill only apply to the 2024 general election. Neither extends voter registration, so we may see a lawsuit on that question soon.
The cover photo is from a North Carolina General Assembly presentation on the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024.
