Voting resources now available for those adversely affected by recent hurricanes
The 2024 General Election: With early voting already available in many states and November 5 only a few weeks away, what is the U.S.Government doing about those thousands upon thousands of voters whose lives have been severely disrupted by the back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton that ravaged the southeast U.S. recently? Those hurricanes and tornadoes leveled many homes and not only displaced Americans from their residences, but also disrupted vital services, closed schools, businesses churches, established voting locations, slowed postal delivery, and destroyed important personal possessions – including photos and identification documents.
Thankfully, voting assistance is here for those in the six southeastern states whose lives have been turned upside-down by Helene and Milton. Just today, the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched a webpage compiling information to help voters in states impacted by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton to have access to the ballot.
In these online resources, the department focuses on the six states that were directly affected by recent hurricanes: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
The site identifies and provides links to various state changes made to accommodate voters who have been displaced, lost their identification documents, have had polling sites moved or who are unsure where or how they can vote. It also provides contact information so that voters can reach local voting officials who can provide the most specific and up-to-date guidance.
With Election Day, November 5 approaching, the Justice Department is working to ensure that voters in states impacted by natural disasters have information necessary to access the ballot.
Select a state to learn how to vote in hurricane-impacted areas:
The Justice Department is also committed to ensuring every eligible voter can cast their ballot free from discrimination and intimidation. Federal laws protect against voter intimidation, coercion and interference at every stage of the voting process. If you believe you have experienced voting rights violations, you may report the situation at civilrights.justice.gov/report.
Voting rights violations may include:
- Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group while voting or attempting to vote
- Interference with voter registration
- Lack of accessibility to polling places
- Absentee voting issues for uniformed services and overseas voters
- Denial of assistance to voters with special needs
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Your vote matters. Make your mark, cast your vote!
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(Source: Department of Justice)
(Cover photo, Image credit RDW Productions)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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