Election Day falls during hurricane season. How many hurricanes actually occurred on a presidential election day in the United States? Only 1, in 1904.

Since the country’s founding in 1776, tropical cyclones have posed challenges to elections, influenced voter sentiment and occasionally changed election dates.

While few hurricanes have impacted the elections held in November, their effects have caused changes weeks and even months before Election Day.

Some of the more notable hurricanes include Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused billions of dollars in damage.

Both hurricanes prompted officials to take emergency action and, in the case of Katrina, forced the postponement of the election.

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin (Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) runs from June 1st to November 30th. As can be seen in the graphic above, the peak of the season is September 10th. However, deadly hurricanes can occur at any time during hurricane season.

(NOAA/NHC / FOX Weather)

Outside the sphere of influence, the state of reaction among potential voters has seemed like a riot.

For example, FEMA’s response to Hurricane Andrew in South Florida in 1992 was widely viewed by the public as inadequate, leaving the state’s 25 electoral votes up for debate.

Likewise, in 2012, Superstorm Sandy swept through the eastern United States and influenced the re-election of President Barack Obama.

At the time, national polls showed that hurricane response was an important factor for 15% of voters.

In 2024, Hurricane Helene hit voters in several southern swing states, but determining the exact impact on the electorate will likely take months, if not longer, according to political experts.

Here’s a look at some of the recent hurricanes that impacted the US election.

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Hurricane Nicole – November 2022

Nicole is known for being only the third hurricane to hit the Sunshine State in November.

The cyclone developed on November 7th and made landfall just three days later on November 10th.

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for much of Florida’s east coast on Election Day ahead of the cyclone’s impacts.

Despite warnings and evacuation notices, most of the impact occurred after the vote, limiting the impact on the electoral process.

At least 11 deaths were attributed to the hurricane in the Caribbean and Florida, and damage was estimated at around $1 billion.

The tracks of Hurricanes Charley and Jeanne in 2004 compared to the tracks of Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022.

(FOX Weather)

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Hurricane Dorian – September 2019

A special election to fill the vacancy in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District was held just days after Hurricane Dorian made landfall near Cape Hatteras as a Category 2 cyclone.

The district covers a region south of Raleigh and east of Charlotte and was hit by the outer edges of the hurricane.

After devastating the Bahamas, the hurricane made landfall on Friday morning, September 6th.

Due to the impact, the state ordered additional early voting times to give affected voters the opportunity to cast their ballot before Election Day on September 10th.

Hurricane Dorian tracks 2019

(FOX Weather)

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Hurricane Florence – September 2018

The Category 1 hurricane hit North Carolina and South Carolina in mid-September, raising concerns about early voting in the midterm elections.

The NC State Board’s office reported sending mail-in ballots to counties that were unable to do so due to flooding and utility outages.

The storm system tied South Carolina’s record as the wettest cyclone, dropping about 35.93 inches over the eastern part of the state.

Florence’s estimated damage was more than $24 million across three southeastern states.

This graphic shows the uncertainty cone for Hurricane Florence in 2018.

(NHC)

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Hurricane Sandy – November 2012

The superstorm made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, just over a week before the presidential election on November 6, 2012.

The storm system had wind strength of a Category 1 hurricane, with a maximum storm surge of about 13 feet.

Both New York and New Jersey experienced significant disruptions in voting precincts, but authorities enacted emergency regulations to mitigate the impact on voters.

In addition to setting up temporary polling locations, both New York and New Jersey extended the deadline for requesting absentee ballots.

Authorities in the Garden State even allowed some affected voters to request, receive and mail ballots by fax or email.

According to a congressional research report, voter turnout was down in the Sandy-affected region, but it is unclear whether the lack of turnout was solely due to the historic storm system.

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Hurricane Katrina – August 2005

The deadliest hurricane to hit the Lower 48 in modern times made landfall on the northern Gulf Coast on August 29 as a strong Category 3 hurricane.

An estimated 1,392 people died and damage was estimated at approximately $125 billion.

More than half a million residents in southeast Louisiana were reportedly displaced, straining the election system.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, several primary elections were postponed, and despite the scheduling changes, counties reported significant declines in voter turnout.

The historic hurricane track from Katrina in 2005.

(NOAA, Office of Coastal Management, DigitalCoast)