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.

Turnout in the 25 western counties affected by Hurricane Helene was stronger than the rest of the state at 58.9%.