The U.S. congressman who represents one of the areas hardest hit by Helene raises concerns about the deadly storm’s impact on voter access in the region.

“There are probably going to be some people out there who, for one reason or another, are not going to be able to exercise their most important constitutional right,” Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., said in an interview with Fox News on Friday Digital.

Edwards is urging his voters to make plans now by sending a press release to residents in his district about three weeks before Election Day, urging those who plan to vote to think about how they will do so.

“I will also be reaching out to people in the area and making offers to get transportation to people who feel like they don’t have a normal life or style of transportation to get to the polls,” Edwards said.

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Rep. Chuck Edwards spoke to Fox News Digital two weeks later about the impact of Hurricane Helene in his district. (Getty Images/Fox News Digital)

“I’m worried. But I also have great confidence in the people of the region who will help people exercise this constitutional right. We just have to start thinking about it now. We can’t wait until the last minute either.” We’re often used to it.

Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast two weeks ago, leaving billions of dollars in destruction and more than 230 deaths in several states.

Edwards estimated there were “approximately 100 deaths” in his district alone, but noted that many were still missing.

“Approximately 9,200 acres in western North Carolina were affected across 28 counties. About 6,000 of them are here in my district,” he said.

However, in addition to the destruction of lives and property, the storm could potentially have serious implications for the election. North Carolina and Georgia, two of the hardest-hit states, emerged as battlegrounds in the 2020 presidential campaign.

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The town of Chimney Rock in Edwards County following flash flooding as a result of Hurricane Helene on October 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

About 17% of North Carolina’s registered voters live in counties designated as Helene disaster areas, according to Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and history at Catawba College.

“People are still trying to get their lives in order, desperately trying to get back into power, trying to connect with their loved ones, trying to get out of the rubble and not really thinking that there are elections here coming up in about three weeks,” Edwards said.

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“So I encourage everyone to think about it now and request an absentee ballot if you don’t think you can vote in an election or plan to vote early.”

North Carolina state lawmakers are already working to mitigate potential problems.

State lawmakers approved $5 million in emergency funding for the state election board to deal with the storm’s impacts. They also expanded emergency measures put in place by the board of elections that allow counties to change the days and locations of early voting.

At the federal level, Edwards said he would give the government’s response a “C-minus.”

Edwards said President Biden left him a voicemail on Friday. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“This storm passed around 10 a.m. Friday and it wasn’t until Tuesday that we saw the first FEMA responders on the ground before we saw the first helicopters carrying food and water,” he said.

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Asked about contact from U.S. leaders, Edwards said President Biden called him earlier Friday but left a voicemail. He did not indicate whether he would call back.

“It was maybe a 10-second clip called ‘Attaboy. Keep it up. We’re thinking about you,'” Edwards said.