Recent data shows that voters in western North Carolina, which has been ravaged by Hurricane Helene, have shown up in massive numbers to vote early. Despite the devastation from the natural disaster, voters in the region are turning out in numbers higher than the state average, easing fears that the hurricane would stifle voter participation.
Furthermore, reports indicate that early voting turnout in the Tarheel State set a record this year after over 4.2 million people cast their votes at in-person polling locations before Election Day. However, the 25 North Carolina counties that Hurricane Helene impacted saw an early voter turnout of 58.9 percent, compared to the statewide turnout of 57 percent.
Executive Director of the State Board of Election Karen Brinson Bell said, “I am proud of all of our 100 county boards of elections and the thousands of election workers who are making this happen in their communities. And I am especially proud of the workers and voters of Western North Carolina. You are an inspiration to us all.”
The American Tribune reported on other great news for Republicans in swing states, where the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of an effort to protect election integrity. The state’s highest court ruled to block an effort that would allow mail-in ballots without a handwritten date to be counted before the election.
Secretary Ken Blackwell, chairman of the Center for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) said, “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court usually votes 3-2 in favor of liberal Democrat arguments, matching the affiliations of that court’s justices. This time Republicans got a good call from the referee on their opponents’ home field, so this is a clear win for election integrity in a pivotal state.”
“I think this is the fifth time we’ve had to fight for this,” she said. “Dates on the mail-in ballots. That is a requirement that is an imperative safeguard for people to feel really good about sending their ballots in. You put a date on it, we have the ability to check it and then when it’s sent in they know the date that it’s supposed to be. The Democrats have fought against this.”
Republican National Committee (RNC) Co-Chair Lara Trump also weighed in on the matter. “For the fifth time, we have successfully defended the state’s dated ballot requirement.” He further stated. “We are committed to protecting critical ballot safeguards to ensure every ballot is cast and counted properly and will continue to fight across Pennsylvania to Protect the Vote.”
Justice Kevin Dougherty wrote in his concurring opinion, “This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election.” We said those carefully chosen words only weeks ago. Yet they apparently were not heard in the Commonwealth Court, the very court where the bulk of election litigation unfolds. Today’s order, which I join, rights the ship. And it sends a loud message to all courts in this Commonwealth: in declaring we would not countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election, we said what we meant and meant what we said.”
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