By Stephanie Kelly WASHINGTON (Reuters) -North Carolina election officials are scrambling to make sure the state's over 7 million registered voters can cast a ballot in the upcoming presidential election,

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in Western North Carolina, concerns have emerged about whether residents affected by the storm will be able to cast their ballots in the November election.

The hurricane’s destruction creates a massive challenge for election officials in a battleground state critical to the outcome of the presidential race.