RALEIGH, N.C. – Citing uncertainty caused by Hurricane Irma , North Carolina’s election agency is urging voters in the city of Charlotte and Cleveland County to take advantage of early voting opportunities ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. Early voting in those areas ends at 1 p.m. Saturday.
“We are closely monitoring weather predictions,” said Kim Westbrook Strach, executive director of the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement. “Early voting ensures your ballot is cast before Irma reaches the Carolinas.”
State law gives Strach emergency authority to alter election schedules in the face of extremely inclement weather. The State Board Office on Thursday afternoon encouraged local elections administrators to prepare for emergency conditions and identified a number of factors Strach will consider as Hurricane Irma approaches the state.
The State Board is in contact with meteorologists and emergency officials and will make a final determination about whether to postpone Tuesday’s elections by the end of the weekend. Elections are scheduled Tuesday in Charlotte, Cleveland County and the town of Murphy in Cherokee County. (Murphy does not have early voting.)
“The safety of voters and election workers is our top priority,” Strach said.
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Resources:
Early voting sites/hours: Mecklenburg; Cleveland
Statute: G.S. 163-27.1
Emergency action factors: Proposed 08 NCAC 01.0106