The following are the prepared remarks for Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, during a press availability on Oct. 7, 2024.
Watch press availability on YouTube
Videos of all State Board press availabilities about Helene are available at ncsbe.gov/Helene.
Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us today and for helping to get accurate information to the voters in western North Carolina as the response to Helene continues.
I’m Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. I’m here with Paul Cox, general counsel to the Board. I’m going to give some brief remarks, followed by a Q&A where we will answer any questions you have. If you want to ask a question, please put your name and media organization in the chat.
Our continued thanks go out to all of the emergency responders, county election officials, and everyday individuals who are stepping up to assist western North Carolinians. We especially appreciate reporters from western North Carolina who are participating today under very tough conditions where you live. Because of the dedication and determination of these individuals and organizations, today all 100 county boards of elections in our state are open to the public.
This morning, significant strides were made in our Helene response as it pertains to voting and the 2024 general election.
The State Board met earlier today and approved an extensive set of emergency measures [read the resolution (PDF)] designed to facilitate voting for western North Carolinians most affected by Helene. The bipartisan Board – comprised of Republicans and Democrats – voted unanimously on these measures. They were drafted in close coordination with county election officials, public safety and emergency management officials, and the U.S. Postal Service, among others. The emergency provisions are designated for Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties as they remain severely disrupted as a result of the disaster and will continue to be disrupted through the election.
Put simply, these measures will help eligible voters in the affected areas cast their ballot either in-person or by mail. And they will help county boards of elections in western North Carolina administer this election under extraordinarily difficult conditions.
Earlier today, the State Board sent out a press release detailing these measures. The release is available in the Media section of the State Board’s website, ncsbe.gov, and was sent out to our distribution list of nearly 11,000 individuals.
Today’s resolution is linked in that press release and is also posted at ncsbe.gov/Helene, the special webpage we created to disseminate information about Helene and voting. The complete video of this press conference will also be posted on the Helene web page as soon as possible after this press conference.
Finally, we have every intention of starting early voting as scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 17 in all 100 counties. Early voting may look different than expected in some of the 13 hardest hit counties, but it will go on. We also will continue to work with emergency management officials, the county boards of elections, and the U.S. Postal Service to ensure robust voting options for absentee and Election Day voting. Our commitment and support of elections in North Carolina, particularly for the affected counties, does not end with a single board meeting and resolution. Today’s actions allow us to move forward, adapt to the circumstances these counties and voters face, and ensure every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot in a safe and secure manner.