Weathering the storm: Hurricane Sandy and the 2012 US federal election

Extreme weather events are often described by meteorologists as the ‘fingerprint of climate change’. These climate-induced disasters are becoming more damaging and more frequent, at times occurring close to elections and impacting upon them. As climate-related natural hazards will continue to do so, states must consider protecting elections and building resilience.

This case study analyses preparedness, actions and results on the part of election officials and their election emergency policies in New Jersey and (as a secondary focus) New York, neighbouring states on the East Coast of the United States, as they faced an incoming hurricane within one week of a national election in 2012.