After Hurricane Helene decimated western North Carolina in 2024, election officials raced to rebuild before a national election just 39 days away. Twelve years earlier, Hurricane Sandy had done the same to New York City — this time with only eight days before the vote. What was learned during Sandy and built by election officials in the years that followed made extraordinary resilience possible after Helene.

Featuring the voices of Karen Brinson Bell of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Buncombe County elections director Corinne Duncan, and MIT election scholar Charles Stewart.

The Unstoppable Vote is a documentary podcast from The Center for Election Innovation & Research about a nearly invisible part of American democracy: the resilience of elections and the people who run them in the face of disaster. When elections run smoothly, as they almost always do, it doesn't mean nothing went wrong. It means trained professionals prepared, adapted, and performed despite the disruptions that inevitably occur.

Learn more at electioninnovation.org.

Credits

The Unstoppable Vote was produced in association with the Center for Election Innovation & Research. The idea for the series originated with CEIR Research Director Chris Mann, who also edited the script and provided project oversight. The series was written and produced by Dale McGowan. Interviews were conducted by Joanie Greve, Maddy Meekins, Tim Dwyer, Chris Mann, Kyle Yoder, Dale McGowan, and David Becker. Promotion by Joanie Greve, Tim Dwyer, Karla Cortes, and Maddy Meekins. Graphics support by Maddy Meekins. Music provided by Blue Dot Sessions.

Hosted and narrated by Kyle Yoder, Associate Research Director for CEIR.

Media sources

“Tropical storm Helene forms in Caribbean, but could hit Florida as major hurricane,” Global News Canada, Sept 24, 2024.

“Hurricane Helene hitting south Georgia hard, shutting off power with strong wind gusts,” 11Alive/NBC News Atlanta, Sept 27, 2024.

“Hurricane Helene timeline: From forecast outlook to historic storm,” WCNC/CBS News Raleigh, Sept 23, 2025.

First responder audio via WLOS News Asheville, Nov 8, 2024.

“Helene's potential impact on the election in North Carolina,” WCNC/CBS News Raleigh, Oct 7, 2024.

WWNC AM radio audio, via CBS Evening News, Mar 31, 2025.

“Hurricane Sandy: Super Storm Slams East Coast States,” ABC News, Oct 29, 2012.