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Commissioners and elections board begin review of polling locations after high early-vote turnout and security concerns at schools
Summary
Harnett County commissioners and the county Board of Elections opened a multi-part discussion on voting locations after large early-voting crowds and security concerns at polling sites in schools. The elections board said it is evaluating precinct splits, additional early-voting sites and other alternatives and will hold public meetings.
Commissioners and election officials discussed options to address large early-voting turnout and safety concerns where polling places operate in school buildings during the two-and-a-half-week early-voting period.
Vice Chairman Bill Morris opened the discussion, noting heavy usage at Western Harnett and Anderson Creek early-voting sites and repeated public questions about security when voting takes place while schools are open. Members of the county Board of Elections described ongoing work to review precinct boundaries and early-voting site configurations.
The boards elections director (name not specified in the transcript) told the commission that precinct changes and site adjustments are under review to reduce site congestion. The director said early-voting sites must remain open for the same hours across sites, a change imposed by state law that expanded staffing and facility burdens compared with earlier practice.
"Western Harnett High School had over 15,000 people to vote early. That is a lot of people and there are some options that the board is looking at which could entail moving sites but could also entail adding additional sites for early voting to help disperse some of that voting population in that area," the elections director said.
Board of Elections chair Allison (first name used in the meeting) and other board members said they will hold community outreach, remote meetings and precinct-level public meetings to collect input from residents, political parties and other stakeholders before proposing formal changes to commissioners. The elections director said the boards next meeting is Feb. 4 and that precinct-site public meetings are planned afterward.
Public commenters and commissioners raised multiple concerns: large vehicle and pedestrian traffic at school polling sites; porta-potty placement and access to restrooms for poll workers and voters; the presence of armed individuals on school grounds; and whether school resource officers (SROs) should or do patrol near polling sites. Election officials said state rules restrict law-enforcement presence inside the voting enclosure because visible armed officers can intimidate voters; they said coordination with law enforcement for perimeter security remains standard practice.
The elections director also noted practical constraints: churches are private property and can withdraw permission to host a polling site; some suggested alternative sites (fire departments, YMCA) lack adequate parking or accessible facilities; and the states administrative code and N.C. Gen. Stat. 163-128 control election procedures.
Board members said the law allows voters who reach the wrong precinct to cast provisional ballots rather than driving to a correct site late in the day; poll workers are instructed to offer that option. Officials said the board will consider logistics such as bathroom access for voters and poll workers and possible use of mobile weapon-detection systems at entry points, subject to legal review.
No formal site changes were made at the meeting; the board of elections is continuing precinct and site reviews, will solicit public input, and will return to the commissioners with proposals for formal approval.
