Harnett County elections staff to map three precinct-redraw options after public complaints of 2–3 hour Election Day waits

HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — The Harnett County Board of Elections on Wednesday began a multi-step process to redraw precinct boundaries in parts of the county’s western and northwestern corridors after residents and party leaders raised Election Day wait-time and precinct-size concerns.

Board staff presented three draft plans that would alter how voters in the Western Harnett/Barbecue, Anderson Creek and surrounding precincts are assigned to polling places. The board directed staff to refine those maps, send them to party chairs and schedule public input sessions in the affected communities ahead of municipal filing deadlines this summer.

The issue drew public comment at the start of the meeting. “On Election Day the wait time to vote reached 2 and a half to 3 hours at Western Harnett High School,” said Alene Danke, identifying herself as a Barbecue precinct resident. Danke and other speakers said long lines, provisional-ballot processing and heat at that site left some registered voters unable to complete ballots.

Claire, an elections staff member who led the mapping presentation, said the office had prepared three initial options to show how precinct lines could be adjusted to even voter loads while avoiding cuts through neighborhoods. “Plan 1 balances those numbers better,” Claire said, adding staff will post maps and take public input before any final action.

Board members and party leaders asked staff to include additional data with the maps: a breakdown by party registration and race for each proposed precinct, and an assessment of population trends in growth areas such as Northwest Harnett. Dana Vasquez, identified in the meeting as Republican chairwoman, requested the party-and-race registration breakdown to evaluate how changes would affect voters.

Staff noted practical tradeoffs: more precincts increase supply and staffing needs; adding early-voting sites requires additional budget (estimated “an additional 30,000–50,000” per site in staffing and equipment according to staff discussion). Claire also reminded the board that changing any precinct boundary triggers a mailed notice to every affected voter and requires submission to the State Board of Elections, including a cover letter, resolution, precinct codes and descriptions.

Board members chose a three-step approach: (1) ask GIS staff to produce refined maps for the three plans discussed (including a Plan 1 that divides southern Barbecue to relieve the busiest site), (2) circulate those maps to party chairs and stakeholders for initial feedback, and (3) schedule public input meetings in affected precincts. Staff said they could produce revised maps within one to two weeks and emphasized the need to complete any changes before municipal candidate filing, currently scheduled for July, so new precinct lines will be in place for local filing and the primary schedule.

Participants also flagged implementation details: the State Board and federal requirements (including references in meeting materials to “163‑128 through 163‑130.2” and to statute “163‑132.5”) must be satisfied for temporary or split voting places; any plan must include clear, simple boundaries (major roads or township lines) to avoid voter confusion. Claire said the office would include alternate polling-site options for each plan — schools, fire stations or community centers — and confirm ADA, parking and security considerations.

The board did not adopt a final boundary change at the meeting. Members emphasized that public input and outreach to municipal and legislative representatives, party chairs and candidates would be an essential part of the process before any final vote.

Ending: Staff will circulate the three map options to the board and party chairs ahead of the next scheduled meeting; the board asked staff to arrange public meetings in affected precincts so residents can comment before the maps are finalized and sent to the State Board of Elections.