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

Since the country’s founding in 1776, tropical cyclones have challenged elections, influencing voters’ sentiments and occasionally changing election dates.

Although very few hurricanes affected the November elections, their effects caused changes weeks or even months before election day.

Two of the more notable cyclones include: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused billions of dollars in damage.

Both hurricanes prompted authorities to take emergency measures and, in the case of Katrina, caused elections to be postponed.

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico) is June 1 to November 30. As seen in the chart above, the peak of the season is September 10. But deadly tornadoes can occur at any time during the hurricane season.

(NOAA/NHC / FOX Weather)

Here’s a look at some recent hurricanes It affected the US elections.

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Hurricane Nicole – November 2022

Nicole is known as the third hurricane to reach Florida in November.

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

The National Hurricane Center released a statement Hurricane Warning for much of Florida’s east coast on election day before the effects of the hurricane.

Despite warnings and evacuation notices, most impacts occurred after voting, limiting impacts on the electoral process.

It was stated that at least 11 people died from the hurricane in the Caribbean. FloridaDamage is estimated to be around $1 billion.

Hurricane Nicole 2022 satellite animation

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Hurricane Dorian – September 2019

A special choice to fill the gap North CarolinaJust days after Hurricane Dorian made landfall near Cape Hatteras as a Category 2 hurricane, the nation’s 9th congressional district was held.

The region covers an area south of Raleigh and east of Charlotte and was impacted by the outer edges of the hurricane.

The hurricane that devastated the Bahamas made landfall on the morning of Friday, September 6.

Due to the effects, additional state-mandated early voting hours Giving affected voters the opportunity to vote before election day, September 10.

Hurricane Dorian 2019 path

(FOX Weather)

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Hurricane Florence – September 2018

A Category 1 hurricane impacted North Carolina and South Carolina This mid-September situation raises concerns about early voting in the midterm elections.

NC State Board office reported Absentee ballots are being mailed to counties that are unable to do so due to flooding and power outages.

The storm system broke the record for South Carolina’s wettest hurricane, dropping approximately 35.93 inches across the eastern portion of the state.

Estimated damage from Florence was more than $24 million in three southeastern states.

This chart shows the cone of uncertainty for Hurricane Florence in 2018.

(NHC)

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Hurricane Sandy – November 2012

Superstorm makes landfall near Atlantic City, New JerseyJust over a week before the presidential election on November 6, 2012.

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

Voting precincts in both New York and New Jersey experienced significant disruptions, but officials enacted emergency provisions to mitigate impacts on voters.

In addition to establishing temporary polling places, new York and New Jersey extended the deadline to request an absentee ballot.

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

According to the Congress Research ReportTurnout was down in the Sandy-affected area, but it’s unclear whether the lack of voter turnout was simply a result of the historic storm system.

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Hurricane Katrina – August 2005

Deadliest tornado to affect the Lower 48 in modern era It made landfall along the northern Gulf Coast as a strong Category 3 on August 29.

An estimated 1,392 people died and damage is estimated to be around $125 billion.

More than half a million people live in the Southeast Louisiana They were reportedly displaced, putting pressure on the electoral system.

Many primaries were postponed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and despite the changes in dates, counties reported significant declines in turnout.

The historic hurricane path of Katrina in 2005.

(NOAA, Office of Coastal Management, DigitalCoast)

Other storms on November election day

Overall, the FOX Forecast Center says there are six storms to make landfall within a week after Election Day in November: Nicole in 2022, Mitch in 1998, storms known as the “Seven” in 1946 and 1935, Storm Eight in 1861 and Storm 1904. Storm in the other. Six.

The 1904 storm was the only storm to make landfall during the presidential election; It arrived in Florida as a tropical storm on November 3.

No hurricanes hit the US on Election Day.

Effects of the storm on voters

Outside the impact zone, the state of response to the storm served as a mobilizing force for voters.

For example, FEMA’s response in 1992 Hurricane Andrew He was widely viewed as underdogs in South Florida, taking away the state’s 25 delegate votes.

Similarly, in 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the eastern United States and affected the re-election of President Barack Obama.

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

In 2024, Hurricane Helene affected voters in many southern swing states, but it will likely take months, if not longer, to accurately determine the effects on voters: According to political experts.