53 GA Counties Declared Fed Disaster Areas, Elections Officials Say

ATLANTA, GA — With Monday being the last day to register to vote, state officials assured residents Hurricane Helene did not impact elections.

Absentee ballots will be mailed this week on time, and early voting in the Nov. 5 general election will begin on Oct. 15, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday at a news conference.

"Every vote matters because every voter matters," he said.

Through Monday, Oct. 7, voters must ensure they are registered and their addresses are current in the elections system.

RELATED: GA General Election 2024: What To Know About Early, Absentee Voting

Helene, which rushed south Georgia as a Category 2 storm after ravaging north Florida on Sept. 27, was downgraded to a tropical storm as it entered the metro Atlanta area.

The devastating system left thousands in Georgia without lights and water, killed at least 33 people statewide and caused widespread damage.

Raffensperger on Monday said at least 53 counties have been declared federal disaster areas. He added in some Georgia counties where power was lost, the pre-election testing of equipment had to be paused.

"It was a massive and deadly storm, and recovery is going to take a long time," Raffensperger said. "Like you, I grieved the loss of life. It's tragic what happened. May the Lord be with their families and help them through this difficult moment."

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He warned residents of scams from people who may take advantage of those impacted by Helene.

Raffensperger advised voters to make a plan during the present elections. As of Monday morning, there were 1.4 million active voters in Georgia, state officials said.

Georgia will join the rest of the U.S. in choosing between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump. Also, a notable race on the ballot is the bout between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and challenger Courtney Kramer.