RALEIGH - The North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP) expresses deep concern over the North Carolina State Board of Elections' (NCSBE) baseless interpretation of the Disaster Recovery Act and its actions forbidding the 25 counties affected by Hurricane Helene from adding Early Voting sites. 

The Disaster Recovery Act was designed to aid recovery efforts and ensure continued access to the democratic process. The NCSBE’s current stance is effectively disenfranchising voters in Western North Carolina. 

The guidance sent to county boards just hours before some were to meet to expand voting access reeks of voter suppression, citing the Disaster Recovery Act as the basis for this restriction. 

“The State Board of Elections needs to uphold their oaths and stop their selective interpretation of legislation at once. They are creating unnecessary barriers to voting for communities that have already suffered tremendous hardship,” said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons.

“We will not hesitate to take any action we deem necessary to ensure the voters of Western North Carolina can participate in free and open elections.”