How will Helene affect the election?

[Funtatlaguy]

With all of the destruction in Florida (with a competitive Senate race) and in swing Presidential states GA and NC, you wonder how many people that wanted to vote won’t be able to now.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. I've been wondering the same thing.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. Hard to quantify.

[flying_wahini]

3. It's over a month away so probably not much.

It will be way down the list of priorities, tho. I bet Kamala starts doing some visits down there next week.

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Depends on the response

Disaster response is usually better under Democrats, because Democrats believe in good governance.

But things in those small towns are going to be a disaster for a long time, and those people look to blame someone. I think getting polls up and running in heavily populated areas will be easier than in some of these remote towns, so absentee ballots might see a surge for Trump voters.

[Jack Valentino]

20. or maybe more rural Trump voters just don't vote-- I hope.

From what I gather, the hurricane did more damage in the Trumpier areas of North Carolina...

[jimfields33]

5. It could be devestating especially North Carolina where Asheville

is a huge blue area. Florida also had Tampa but hopefully flooding goes down. The bend area is sparsely populated. I’m unsure of the areas of Georgia. I see Atlanta was affected but not sure how much.

[Native]

6. I'm thinking you have to look at the counties that were hardest hit to see if they are more red or blue

[kansasobama]

7. Very hard to predict

I remember Florida was devastated during Bush years and they still voted for Bush. Katrina had no impact on Bush in Louisiana. As someone said, it really depends on the counties. A reason early voting is so important

[BlueInPhilly]

8. Katrina was in 2005

Bush’s 2nd term.

Partly why Obama won in 2008.

[kansasobama]

14. Oops yes

Thanks

[Polybius]

19. Obama was going to win anyway

Plus the main area that was affected, Louisiana, voted for McCain with 58.56% of the vote, with just 39.93% for Obama.

[MichMan]

9. I think it will have more effect on turn out than who people choose

[DeepWinter]

10. I can't imagine anything

other than lowering voter turnout. People displaced, people with a hell of a lot more on their plate than voting.

But actually change the state results? Honestly don't know there.

[Funtatlaguy]

11. Yes. I'm thinking casual voters stay home.

Hardcore supporters will probably take time to vote, where possible.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

12. NC has a "natural disaster" exemption to its new Voter ID law for voters who are "victim of a natural disaster"

We cannot let this hurricane hurt voter turnout

Link to tweet

[Funtatlaguy]

13. Thanks for this. Very illuminating.

[Stallion]

15. I Wonder How Many Voter Registration Cards are Floating in the water?

[TheKentuckian]

16. I cannot say but one positive is Crazy pants isn't in position to insanely try to nuke it.

Or even to just pretend to explain it away via magic Sharpie.

[ecstatic]

17. My colleagues in Augusta GA are not doing well

No water. No power. No gas. Blocked in by trees. Yesterday, the route to Atlanta was blocked by a Biolab explosion!

[struggle4progress]

18. "Why didn't Biden get out his Sharpie and redirect the floods from NC to Alabama?

And why hasn't Biden come down to NC to throw paper towels at us?"