During the Monday, Oct. 7 news briefing, we heard from Buncombe County Election Services Director Corinne Duncan about election planning in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. “I’m here to reassure our community that Buncombe County will vote,” said Duncan.
Buncombe County Election Services is now open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as they continue preparing for the General Election in November.
“Obviously, we no longer have access to the facilities or number of poll workers in our original plans,” Duncan shared, adding that although the Election Services office and all equipment are safe and unscathed, the county is working with the NC State Board of Elections to create a modified plan.
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Buncombe County Board of Elections will hold a public meeting to further discuss any changes to its early voting plan and begin processing absentee ballots. The meeting will be held at the Election Services building at 59 Woodfin Pl. at 3:30 p.m.
Note: The information about early and absentee voting currently on Election Services’ website will be updated as soon as new plans are finalized. Although service is spotty, you call or email Election Services with questions — to reach the office, call 828-250-4200 or email elections@buncombecounty.org.
Important dates + information
- Voter registration deadline: Friday, Oct. 11
- Note: You can also register in person during early voting.
- Early voting begins: Thursday, Oct. 17
- Deadline to submit an absentee ballot request: Tuesday, Oct. 29
- Note: To meet the expected increase in demand for voting by mail, Election Services is increasing its capacity to process these ballots.
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5
If you have already requested an absentee ballot but need to change the mailing address after evacuation or displacement, contact Election Services.
You can find voter registration materials online or in person at Election Services. You can also visit the office to receive a photo ID, which is needed to cast your ballot. Find additional information and resources from the NC State Board of Elections on voting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
State Board of Elections passes emergency resolution
On Monday, Oct. 7, the NC State Board of Elections approved a list of measures to ensure that voting is accessible to voters in 13 WNC counties, including Buncombe. The provisions allow the board of elections in these counties to modify early voting and Election Day plans to best serve voters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
One of the most significant changes outlined in the resolution allows absentee voters or their near relatives (spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild) to hand deliver their completed ballot to any county board of elections in NC by Election Day. Previously, voters were required to deliver their ballot only to their designated board of elections.
In addition, if you have requested an absentee ballot but your residence isn’t able to receive mail due to mailboxes or roads being impacted by the storm, your local post office will hold your mail for you so you can pick it up. To keep up with the status of absentee ballots, consult BallotTrax.
Below is a list of the measures approved by the bipartisan NC State Board of Elections:
In-person voting
- Facilitate in-person early voting by allowing county boards of elections to modify their approved early voting sites, days, and hours through a bipartisan, majority vote.
- Allow county boards to modify Election Day polling places by bipartisan, majority vote. This provision also allows county boards of elections, with the approval of the State Board executive director, to open a polling place in another county, provided that materials, tabulators, and voting processes are kept separate for each precinct’s voters at that location.
- Allow county boards – by bipartisan, majority vote – to set up their board of elections office to permit any voter in the county to vote at that site, in the event voters are unable to get to their Election Day precinct voting site or are unsure of their voting location. Some county offices may also serve as an early voting site, which allows any voter of the county to vote during the early voting period.
Absentee voting
- Allow voters to request and receive an absentee ballot in person at their county board of elections office up until November 4 – the day before the election. As always, the voter or voter’s near relative or legal guardian is required to complete an absentee request form with the required personal information for the voter, and that information must be verified by the county board as with any absentee request.
- Allow voters to drop off completed absentee ballots at Election Day polling places operated by the voters’ county board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
- Allow voters or their near relatives or legal guardians to hand-deliver completed absentee ballots to another county board of elections in North Carolina or the State Board of Elections office, as long as the ballot is received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. The county or State Board then would ensure that those ballots are delivered to each voter’s county board of elections by November 14 – the day before county canvass – to be counted. A log and chain of custody will be maintained to secure these ballots.
Poll worker recruitment and assignment
- Allow county boards – by bipartisan, majority vote – to appoint election officials who are registered to vote in other NC counties, to appoint emergency Election Day assistants and assign them to a precinct, and to reassign poll workers to different locations than their original assignment to ensure sufficient knowledge and expertise at each voting site.
Multipartisan Assistance Teams (MATs)
- Allow county boards – by bipartisan, majority vote – to schedule Multipartisan Assistance Teams to assist with absentee ballot requests and absentee voting at disaster shelters and other places where disaster relief is provided to the public. These teams may receive and deliver to county boards completed absentee ballot envelopes for voters.
Coordination with emergency officials
- Ensure the State Board continues its ongoing coordination with the N.C. Division of Emergency Management to provide election-related aid to the disaster counties, including temporary voting facilities, generators, temporary restrooms, and other needs.
Find the full resolution here.
