The ability to vote amidst challenging circumstances is crucial for maintaining democratic processes. In a commendable display of resilience and strategic planning, the NC State Board of Elections has been recognized nationally for its efforts during Hurricane Helene. This recognition highlights the Board’s dedication to ensuring voter accessibility despite natural disasters.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) announced the accolade on Wednesday, awarding the State Board a Clearinghouse Award for “Exemplary Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Efforts” for large jurisdictions. This award was among 53 programs honored this year from a record 258 entries.
Several other election boards in North Carolina, including Buncombe, Currituck, Durham, and Wake counties, received 2024 Clearinghouse Awards, while Durham, Rockingham, and Union counties were given honorable mentions. For more details on the award recipients, visit the EAC Clearinghouse Award Winners 2024.
Adapting Voting Procedures During Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene, which hit Western North Carolina in late September 2024, posed significant challenges, occurring just six weeks before the election. With absentee voting underway and early voting approaching, the hurricane’s impact was severe, with over 100 fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage.
The State Board’s quick action ensured that elections continued as planned. “We don’t stop an election. We figure out how to proceed,” became their guiding principle. Collaborating with various partners, including the N.C. National Guard and the U.S. Postal Service, the State Board ensured voting availability across the 25-county disaster zone.
Thanks to these efforts, nearly all early voting sites and Election Day polling places opened on schedule, even utilizing large festival tents to replace damaged buildings. Communication and support from the Board’s field team to county election officials were vital, especially for those directly affected by the floods.
The results were telling, with voter turnout in the affected counties reaching 74.88%, surpassing the state average of 72.64%. This success was attributed to long-standing partnerships and the dedicated work of election officials.
Karen Brinson Bell, the State Board’s executive director, praised the collective effort, stating, “We are extremely proud of the efforts of our state’s election officials and our partners to pull off a successful election under the most trying of circumstances.”
Recognizing Excellence in Election Administration
The EAC’s annual awards aim to honor exceptional work by election officials nationwide. This year’s recognition of programs during the high voter turnout in 2024 showcases their impact. The EAC, an independent federal agency, evaluates submissions based on various criteria, including innovation and cost-effectiveness.
A Tradition of Excellence
Under Brinson Bell’s leadership, the State Board has secured four Clearinghouse Awards in five years. Previous awards recognized initiatives like the “Democracy Heroes” campaign in 2021, which recruited thousands of poll workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing “Help Us Be Successful” program in 2022, which improves collaboration between state and county election boards.
In 2024, the Board’s innovative Attack Response Kits (ARKs) were also awarded. These kits, deployed during Hurricane Helene, provided essential equipment to maintain election operations during outages. For more on these accomplishments, read about the State, County Election Boards’ National Awards.
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