North Carolina is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, a worry for Democratspublished at 19:44 British Summer Time
As we've previously reported, some people have already cast their ballots in several US states, with in-person early voting starting in the key swing state of North Carolina on Thursday. But the process could hit snags as election day gets nearer.
The state is one of seven crucial battlegrounds that experts say could tilt this election, and it's still reeling from a deadly hurricane that tore through it on 26 September.
More than 100 people are still missing after the storm, and roughly 4% of customers in the state are without power.
In Buncombe County, one of the hardest-hit areas where dozens were killed, several buildings were destroyed, including planned polling locations.
The county's Democratic chair, Kathie Kline, told Politico, she's worried about the storm's effect on her party's chances.
"I am very concerned that North Carolina could lose," Kline said. "We were feeling pretty confident we were going to turn blue this year, but because of the storm, we're less convinced that we're going to have that positive impact at the polls."