The U.S. congressman representing one of many areas hit hardest by Helene is elevating issues in regards to the lethal storm’s affect on voter entry within the area.
“There’ll seemingly be some folks on the market that, for one motive or one other, will be unable to train their most necessary constitutional proper,” Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., advised Fox Information Digital in an interview Friday.
Edwards is urging his constituents to make plans now, sending out a press launch to residents of his district roughly three weeks earlier than Election Day, asking those that intend to vote to begin determining how they are going to accomplish that.
“I will additionally comply with up with of us within the space and make presents to assist get transportation for these of us that really feel like they won’t have a traditional life or a transportation model to make it to the polls,” Edwards stated.
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Rep. Chuck Edwards spoke with Fox Information Digital in regards to the results of Hurricane Helene in his district two weeks later. (Getty Pictures/Fox Information Digital)
“I am involved. However I even have a whole lot of confidence with the oldsters within the space to assist of us train that constitutional proper. We simply have to begin enthusiastic about it now. We will not wait until the final minute, as too many occasions we’re accustomed to doing.”
Hurricane Helene tore by way of the Southeast two weeks in the past, leaving billions of {dollars} of destruction and greater than 230 folks useless throughout a number of states.
Edwards estimated his district alone has seen “about 100 deaths” however famous many had been nonetheless lacking.
“About 9,200 acres of western North Carolina was affected in 28 counties. About 6,000 of that’s proper right here in my district,” he stated.
Along with the devastation to life and property, nevertheless, the storm might have probably extreme ramifications for the election. North Carolina and Georgia, two of the hardest-hit states, emerged as battlegrounds within the 2020 presidential race.
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The city of Chimney Rock in Edwards’ district after flash flooding within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Picture/Mike Stewart)
About 17% of North Carolina’s registered voters are within the counties designated as Helene catastrophe areas, in keeping with Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and historical past at Catawba Faculty.
“Of us are nonetheless within the means of placing their lives collectively, desperately attempting to get their energy again on, attempting to get in contact with their family members, attempting to dig out from the particles and not likely considering that there is an election arising right here in three weeks or so,” Edwards stated.
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“So, what I am encouraging everybody to do is to begin enthusiastic about that now, to request an absentee poll in case you do not assume you are going to have the ability to get to a ballot or to plan to vote early.”
The North Carolina state legislature is already transferring to mitigate attainable points.
State lawmakers accredited $5 million in emergency funding for the State Board of Elections to take care of the storm’s results, they usually additionally expanded emergency measures put in place by the election board that permit counties to switch early voting days and areas.
On the federal stage, Edwards stated he would give the federal government’s response a “C-minus.”
Edwards stated President Biden left him a voicemail Friday. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
“This storm was over about 10 a.m. on Friday, and it was into Tuesday earlier than we noticed the primary boots on the bottom from FEMA, earlier than we noticed the primary helicopters with meals and water,” he stated.
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Requested about outreach from U.S. leaders, Edwards stated President Biden known as him earlier on Friday however left a voicemail. He didn’t point out whether or not he’d return the decision.
“It was perhaps a 10-second clip going, ‘Attaboy. Sustain the nice work. We’re enthusiastic about you,’” Edwards stated.
