COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — After Hurricane Helene brought historic flooding to upper East Tennessee, some election officials needed to make changes to their usual operations. However, they are still expected to be able to collect ballots and properly file them.
There have been several noted changes to elections in upper East Tennessee, including two Carter County election day polling places being moved, limited access to a Johnson County polling place and the Cocke County Election Commission having been moved.
In Cocke County, the election commission now shares a space with its early voting spot. Its office was flooded during the storm but its elections administrator, Josh Blanchard, said nothing was damaged.
"Luckily before the flood, we got all of our voting equipment out and we got other relevant items out. What we did not get out before the flood, we were able to retrieve after the flood with very minimal damage," Blanchard said.
The flooding's impact extends past building damage. Some people lost their IDs and other important documents. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security set up three mobile units to issue free replacements.
They were set up in Carter, Unicoi and Cocke Counties from Oct. 4 to Oct. 11. Blanchard said if people still need an ID they should reach out to the election commission.
"You can call our office and we'll talk you through that. There are resources here in the county for folks who have lost a photo ID. Or if it's going to take you some time to get a photo ID, you can come vote a provisional ballot which will allow you additional time to obtain that photo ID if you've lost it from the flooding," he said.
For people who have been displaced by the storm and for relief workers from other Tennessee counties, they can request an absentee ballot. Requests must be made by Oct. 29.
Early voting starts Wednesday and goes until Oct. 31 in Tennessee.