Early in-person voting has commenced in North Carolina, a key presidential battleground, despite significant challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, which recently caused extensive flooding and left many residents without power and clean water. Over 400 voting locations across all 100 counties are open for the 17-day voting period, with only four sites closed in the hardest-hit regions. State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell expressed optimism for voter turnout, suggesting it may even increase as displaced voters prefer early voting options. The hurricane resulted in at least 246 deaths, primarily in North Carolina, marking it as one of the deadliest hurricanes since Katrina. Early voting, which allows same-day registration, has historically garnered substantial participation in North Carolina, with 65% of ballots cast this way in the 2020 election. Absentee voting has also begun, with over 60,000 ballots already submitted.