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Buncombe County elections staff review two absentee ballots and brief board on new state residency rule for overseas voters
Summary
At a board meeting Oct. 14, elections staff reviewed absentee ballot procedures, processed two civilian absentee ballots and told the board a state rule change now excludes overseas registrants who have never resided in North Carolina from local and state contests; the board voted to approve the two validated ballots.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY — The Buncombe County Board of Elections conducted an absentee-ballot review on Oct. 14, during which staff demonstrated the updated checklist and processed two civilian absentee ballots. The board voted to accept the ballots as presented and validated by the machine.
Assistant Director Negi Fox walked the board through the office’s absentee‑review checklist, demonstrating steps to verify voter name, envelope condition, signature, witness or notary requirements and a new requirement that photo ID or a photo‑ID exception form accompany absentee ballots. Fox said staff had sent 29 civilian absentee ballots locally, 44 overseas and 7 military ballots so far.
Fox also briefed the board on a state rule change affecting overseas registrants: "They can no longer vote in local or state contests," she said, describing a new interpretation that people who have "never resided in the state of North Carolina" are eligible only for federal contests. Fox said the office sent three letters this cycle to voters whose registration records indicated they had never resided in North Carolina, per State Board of Elections guidance; those letters inform affected registrants how to correct the record if they had checked the box in error.
Ballot processing and vote
Staff scanned two civilian absentee ballots on the DS200 scanner. After board review and a staff recommendation, a member moved to approve the two ballots as presented; another member seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote (ayes). Staff sealed the ballots in the locked chain‑of‑custody container and confirmed the machine files would be retained until election day.
Additional procedural and deadline changes
Staff noted other procedural changes for 2025: the deadline to request an absentee ballot was moved up (staff said Oct. 21 is the last day to request in this election, two weeks before election day), and overseas and military packets will now include a photo‑ID upload or an exception form. Fox described outreach limited to sending the state‑issued letter and said counties have been instructed only to review the registration box and send the notice.
Ending
Board members asked about the cure timeline for ballots that fail requirements; staff said cure windows and follow‑up processes are governed by state guidance and typically allow contact through email, phone and written letter, with some cures completed before canvass. The board voted to approve the two processed absentee ballots and to sign the required checklists and chain‑of‑custody documents.
