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Dare County elections board approves agenda, reviews absentee ballots and prepares for early voting
Summary
At a regular meeting, the Dare County Board of Elections approved its agenda and minutes, accepted two civilian absentee ballots for record, and heard staff report on tabulator configuration and early voting preparations including issuing 40 absentee ballots and equipment distribution to voting sites ahead of Oct. 16.
Dare County Board of Elections members voted to approve the meeting agenda and the minutes from their Oct. 7 meeting, reviewed two civilian absentee ballots and discussed new tabulator printing behavior as staff prepared for early voting that begins Oct. 16.
The board approved the agenda after a motion from Member 4 and a second; the motion passed by voice vote. Member 4 also moved to approve the Oct. 7 minutes as finalized by Director Kelly; Member 2 seconded that motion and the minutes were approved. During discussion of the minutes, a board member noted the minutes were updated to show an effective date of 09/25/25 based on an email from “Mr. Tillett” regarding his resignation.
A staff member presented two civilian absentee ballots for review and said staff had examined them and found them acceptable. Member 2 moved to approve both civilian absentee ballots; Member 4 seconded. The board approved the ballots by voice vote.
Board members and staff spent several minutes testing a newly received tabulator and its paper-tape behavior. A staff member described that the new tabulator prints a configuration report when first powered up unless a roll of tape is pulled partially out before startup; the tape-printing behavior differs from the county’s older machines. The staff member said precincts have been fastening the printed tape to the outside of the machine during early voting and that on election day this practice should not be necessary. The board asked staff to check with the vendor about whether the initial configuration printout can be disabled and to propagate any configuration changes to other precinct machines.
Director Kelly told the board that, as of the meeting, the elections office had issued 40 absentee ballots across military, overseas and civilian categories. She reminded members that early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 16, and said equipment would be delivered the next morning to the two sites named for early voting setup. Kelly also asked members to sign two sets of executed-absentee records: one public set for the minutes and a second set containing CIB numbers that will be retained in supplies and not published.
During the meeting a board member praised staff, saying the board “backs our director and our deputy and our election specialist 100% without question ever.” The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn and a second; the adjournment passed.
The board scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 3:00 p.m., according to the director’s remarks.
