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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Voters in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene's devastation may see several changes to how they can cast their ballots in the coming weeks after the state's election board approved an emergency resolution that modifies voting rules.

North Carolina residents impacted by Helene likely to see some voting changes

<p>TALK ABOUT MORE SPECIFICS FOR ALL OF OUR FLORIDA AND NORTH CAROLINA. COMING UP &gt;&gt; THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS THIS FRIDAY. BUT EVEN THE PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE QUESTION, WHETHER THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PERFORM THEIR CIVIC DUTY JUST MINUTES AGO, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO GIVE THE HARDEST HIT COUNTIES MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR ELECTIONS. WRAL CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF LAURA LESLIE JOINS US RIGHT NOW LIVE WITH WHAT THOSE CHANGES COULD LOOK LIKE. LAURA. &gt;&gt; YOU KNOW, NORTH CAROLINA IS NO STRANGER TO HOLDING ELECTIONS AFTER HURRICANES AND NATURAL DISASTERS. I MEAN, HURRICANE MATTHEW HIT IS JUST LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. BUT THIS IS AFTER IS LARGER THAN ANYTHING ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS PAST CENTURY AS PART OF WHETHER STATE ELECTIONS BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY JUST MINUTES AGO TO ALLOW COUNTY ELECTION OF BOARDS IN THOSE 13 HARDEST HIT COUNTIES TO USE DIFFERENT METHODS TO GET BALLOTS TO AND FROM VOTERS WHO MAY BE STRANDED BY DAMAGE FROM HELENE AND SOME PLACES. VOTING SITES HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS WILL HAVE TO USE TEMPORARY SITES OR BUILDINGS TO CONDUCT VOTING AT OR NEAR THOSE PRECINCT LOCATIONS. IF COUNTY BOARDS APPROVE MULTI PARTISAN TEAMS AND THEY UP HOW THEY APPOINT WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO TO DISASTER SHELTERS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE AID IS BEING PROVIDED TO HELP PEOPLE CAST THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT. THOSE TEAMS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE BALLOTS AND BRING THEM BACK TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION. SO VOTERS WON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE MAIL TO RETURN THEM. STATE BOARD MEMBERS, STACY EGGERS LIVES IN WATAUGA COUNTY. THAT'S ONE OF THE 13 COUNTIES INCLUDED. &gt;&gt; WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE VOTING ACCESSIBLE TO VOTERS AND WHETHER WE NEED FOUR-WHEELERS HORSES ARE HELICOPTERS. THIS DISASTER HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR CONSISTENCY IN OUR WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET TO THE LOCATIONS THAT THE VOTERS EXPECT US. &gt;&gt; COULD BE. &gt;&gt; THE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION THAT PASSED TODAY WILL ALSO ALLOW VOTERS IN THOSE COUNTIES TO RETURN THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN PERSON ON ELECTION DAY AT ANY PRECINCT, THAT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GENERALLY ALLOWED FOR MOST THAT UNITED UNDER THE LAW AND VOTERS WHO'VE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE STORM WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THEIR BALLOTS TO COUNTY BOARDS IN OTHER COUNTIES WHERE THEY'RE STAYING IN. THOSE COUNTIES WOULD THEN RETURN THOSE BALLOTS BACK TO THE HOME COUNTY FOR THEM. COMING UP AT 2 O'CLOCK TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM STATE ELECTIONS DIRECTOR KAREN BRINSON BELL ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF VOTING SITES IN THOSE 13 MOST AFFECTED COUNTIES AND WHAT THE STATE IS PREPARED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING. WHEN EARLY VOTING</p>

NC leaders approve flexibility for voters in Helene counties

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After Tropical Storm Fred hit Haywood County in 2021, only a small percentage of the $13 million in relief money has been spent, with much of it remaining untouched. 

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Thousands remain without water in western North Carolina, a week after Helene hit the area. A rise in crime has prompted a curfew in Black Mountain. On top of all this, misinformation has become the latest problem hindering recovery efforts.

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North Carolina data shows the state has had more than 100 deaths as a result of the destruction from Hurricane Helene.

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WRAL News is covering the impact, aftermath and cleanup from Hurricane Helene, from the flooding as far west as the Tennessee border to tornado damage in Rocky Mount. 
Tap a pin for coverage from your hometown.

Map: County-by-county coverage of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina

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