The NC State Board of Elections has been recognized for its exceptional handling of the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene. According to an announcement made yesterday by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the State Board received a Clearinghouse Award, particularly acknowledging their efforts within the "Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts" category for large jurisdictions. The hurricane, which struck Western North Carolina in late September 2024, occurred during a critical period for elections with absentee voting already underway.
The determined response by the State Board, to ensure the voting process remained uninterrupted despite the havoc wreaked by Helene, set an impressive standard as reported by NC State Board of Elections. Collaborating with county election boards, emergency services, and other partners, the State Board facilitated the opening of nearly all polling places on time. This effort included the establishment of seven large festival tents to replace facilities destroyed by the storm – a testament to the agency's adaptability and resilience.
A massive undertaking indeed, the State Board's field support team remained in firm communication with county officials to meet local needs and to offer emotional support for those affected personally by the floods. The impressive 74.88% voter turnout in the 25-county disaster area, surpassing the statewide turnout, was unmistakable evidence of the response's success.
In a statement obtained by the NC State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the State Board, voiced deep pride in the collaborative efforts that made a successful election possible. "Hundreds of thousands of Western North Carolinians were able to vote in the important 2024 election because of State Board planning, along with the hard work and resiliency of county election officials and the invaluable assistance of our emergency management, and law enforcement partners," she said.
This marks the fourth time in five years that the State Board of Elections, under Brinson Bell’s leadership, has earned a Clearie, signifying a sustained commitment to maintaining electoral integrity and accessibility against all odds. Past awards celebrated initiatives like the "Democracy Heroes" campaign, the ongoing "Help Us Be Successful" (HUBS) program, and the deployment of Attack Response Kits (ARKs), which proved instrumental during the Hurricane Helene response.
