BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Thousands of voters across four counties in western North Carolina cast their ballots in a tent on Tuesday. Election officials say FEMA provided the tents after seven polling locations were either damaged by Helene or being used in the recovery efforts.

According to voter registration data, nearly all of those western N.C. counties lean Republican or are heavily Republican. They’re also largely rural in nature, with smaller populations.

When Helene destroyed many parts of Western North Carolina nearly six weeks ago, voter turnout for the 2024 election was up in the air.