2024 - Winner for Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts

Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in late September 2024, six weeks before the election. Absentee voting had already begun, and in-person early voting was scheduled to start in three weeks. Flooding washed away homes, businesses, and communities. Sadly, many lives were lost. Power, water, sewer, and internet services were out for days months in some areas. The State Board of Elections immediately started working to ensure voters could cast ballots despite the devastation. The states mantra: We dont stop an election. We figure out how to proceed. State Board staff worked with Board members, county election boards, local, state and federal emergency and law enforcement partners, the N.C. National Guard, the U.S. Postal Service, FEMA, state and local IT professionals, and others to ensure voting in the 25-county disaster area. Voter turnout in those 25 counties was 74.88%, higher than the statewide turnout of 72.64%. In addition, state funding for an advertising campaign, existing relationships across the state, and the hard work and resilience of election officials helped make this effort possible.