Republican Party leaders met in hurricane-torn North Carolina last week with a mission: figure out how to reach displaced or cut-off potential Donald Trump voters. They thought of flying in absentee ballot registrations via helicopter or having mules or all-terrain vehicles take voters to the polls.

Former President Trump on Monday made a swing through North Carolina, seeking to shore up his support in a crucial battleground state with early voting underway. “I’d like to begin by asking a question.

North Carolina voter turnout is higher this year compared to the last presidential election in 2020, according to the State Board of Elections. As of Sunday, the fourth day of in-person early voting for the 2024 general election,