Georgia Elections Remain Stable Despite Hurricane Helene’s Impact
After the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Helene, Georgia’s top elections official, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, offered reassurance that the upcoming general election in the state would not face substantial disruptions. Following the storm’s passage through Florida, Georgia encountered power outages and destruction, but Raffensperger conveyed that most of the state’s 159 counties’ elections offices were largely unharmed with no equipment damage reported.
Acknowledging the concerns surrounding the storm’s aftermath, Raffensperger highlighted positive developments, indicating that absentee ballots were being dispatched as planned, with early voting slated to commence on October 15. Although some parts of the state grappled with power and internet outages post-Helene, Blake Evans, the elections director for the secretary of state’s office, affirmed that emergency management authorities prioritized restoring power to ensure minimal disruptions to election offices.
While certain election-related activities were briefly halted following the storm, Evans noted that operations have largely resumed, emphasizing ongoing assessments of Election Day polling locations across Georgia. Despite challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, the state remains vigilant in addressing any disruptions or changes necessitated by the storm’s impact.
Additionally, Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer in the secretary of state’s office, acknowledged the closure of a few U.S. Postal Service offices in heavily affected areas, potentially impacting nearly 700 absentee ballots. Efforts are underway to mitigate these disruptions by exploring alternative delivery methods or facilitating ballot pickup at alternative locations to ensure timely receipt.
As Georgia grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the looming threat of Hurricane Milton, preparations are underway to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. The state remains cautiously optimistic about the election process, contingent on favorable conditions and minimal storm-related interferences. Adaptation and resilience remain the priorities as Georgia navigates the complexities of the ongoing hurricane season.
