Board of Elections

I sat quietly listening in the back of the room at the August 16 Chatham County Board of Elections meeting. I hoped to observe a respectful, data driven discussion about how our County will efficiently and effectively conduct the November elections in a non-partisan manner.

Not so much. 

I was surprised that twenty one citizens signed up to speak in front of the board. Most speakers demanded that Chatham County open early voting sites in northeast Chatham County for 17 days of early voting, with extended hours, plus 3 more Sunday voting days. 

Some of the arguments for extended hours were that people just do not have time to vote; that more voting sites need to be opened because of voter lack of interest; that voters can only get to the polls if they are driven by their churches, and that people just do not have enough time, in 17 days, to vote. One person said we need to open more voting places to shorten long time-consuming lines because voters will no longer be able to vote a straight party ticket. Funny how the states to the north and south of North Carolina can get by with just absentee voting. 

A minority felt that individuals should take personal initiative to make it to the polls, and that those who wish to vote in the upcoming election could do so with the same early voting hours as in past elections, plus absentee ballots, plus the day of election itself. 

The county Board of Elections consists of three members; two from the sitting governors party, one from the opposition. Board decisions must be unanimous or the State will determine the County procedures. Our county board seems to be three reasonable and informed individuals who seek to do the right thing. The Board Chair should be commended for his position that to be fair, all early voting places across the county need to be open the same times. Some in the audience wanted the northeast polling location to be open for many more hours than those in Siler City or Goldston, or at the Board of Elections office itself.

After the public comment period ended, members of the audience heckled the Elections Board as they debated among themselves the merits of various early voting locations, whether funds were available for additional hours, or how to equitably distribute voting options across the county. The hecklers were, without exception, upset about not having greatly increased early voting hours over the previous elections. They were intrusive on the Board members deliberations and abusive to anyone who disagreed with them.

One of the problems with expanding voting locations in Chatham County is finding suitable and willing locations. The Board of Elections Director said owners of several potential early voting locations refused to rent space to the County because of the rude campaigning behavior of political activists in the past. One of the speakers complained about this happening in the March elections, and I have heard that Democrat activists have intimidated voters at polling sites in the County. Intimidating behavior seems entirely likely given that very behavior I witnessed Tuesday evening. 

How can the citizens of the county assist our voting process? Chatham County needs unbiased and honest volunteers to ensure fair and open elections. Please volunteer with the County Board of Elections. Contact the Board of Elections at http://www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=110.