Judge extends NC voter registration by five days

A state judge has extended the voter registration deadline in some counties in North Carolina by five days in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Reuters reported Friday.

{mosads}The judge extended voter registration in 36 counties hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, a lawyer for the the state Democratic Party tweeted.

The decision comes after the Democratic Party in North Carolina sued to get an extension.

In its suit, the Democratic Party said thousands of people would not be able to vote in the general election if the voter registration deadline was not extended.

“This ruling will ensure that those communities who have suffered from the devastating flooding brought on by Hurricane Matthew have the grace period that they need in order to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in this critical election,” party officials said, according to Reuters.

As a result of Hurricane Matthew, thousands of people in North Carolina have had to evacuate their homes and more than 20 in the state have died.

Earlier this week, state officials said they wouldn’t extend the deadline to register to vote but would make exceptions for forms delayed by mail delivery.

North Carolina’s Republican Party opposed an extension to the voter registration deadline.

“It is clear that North Carolina Democrats, who have been dominated in voter registration by Republicans, want to use a horrific natural disaster to change the rules in the middle of the game,” state Republican Chairman Robin Hayes said in a statement.

Voters in other states, including Florida and South Carolina, have also been granted extra days to register to vote in the aftermath of the hurricane.