Daniel Coble, a judge in South Carolina, reportedly extended the voter registration deadline by eight days during a virtual hearing on Friday in response to Hurricane Helene.
Applications will be accepted until October 14 through in-person, online, and mail-in methods.
“Many residents remain without power and internet, and numerous government offices—including those responsible for voter registration—are closed due to the storm’s impact,” the Democratic party in the state said in a new statement.
The decision was the result of a lawsuit filed by the Democrats in the state, who cited the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene as a barrier to citizens’ ability to participate in the general election.
Several county voter registration offices were closed for days before they were able to reopen for registration.
According to the South Carolina Election Commission, McCormick, Laurens, and Edgefield offices have been closed as a result of the hurricane.
In 2018, the state’s courts granted a comparable extension in response to Hurricane Florence.
The party asserts that the attorney general and governor were responsible for initiating this response, but they did not.
[READ MORE: South Carolina extends voter registration due to Hurricane Helene impact]
