North Carolina is extending its voter registration deadline in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
North Carolina Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens ordered voter registration to be extended until Wednesday in the 36 counties receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kellie Myers, an administrator for the state’s 10th judicial district, told CNN.
The North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit earlier Friday in Superior Court requesting an immediate hearing on the matter, Myers said.
The original deadline was 5 p.m. ET on Friday. Voter registration in the rest of the state ended Friday as scheduled.
“Our agency appreciates Judge Stephens’ thoughtful consideration of this matter and will fully comply with his order,” Kim Westbrook Strach, the executive director of the state’s board of elections, said in a statement.
At least 22 residents died in the state as major rivers hovered above flood stage in the storm’s aftermath.
A federal judge also agreed this week to extend voting registration in Florida until October 18 because of the impact of Hurricane Matthew.