Harnett County elections board adopts municipal early-voting plans, schedules judge appointments; tables ballot-duplication policy

The Harnett County Board of Elections on Wednesday approved early-voting schedules and public information flyers for upcoming municipal elections, set dates to appoint chief judges and early-voting officials, agreed to mail precinct-change notices and work with county political parties on outreach, and voted to table a proposed ballot-duplication policy for further review.

The decisions affect the Erwin municipal election and the Andrews and Lillington municipal contests, set key deadlines for party-submitted judge lists and early-voting official appointments, and schedule a demonstration of a ballot-on-demand system for stakeholders.

The measures came after public comments urging changes to how chief judges are selected and broader outreach about precinct changes. Public commenter Marge Mueller told the board that appointments should reflect party registration, saying there “should be 8 Republican and 7 Democratic chief judges for the 2025-26 election cycle.” Another speaker, Rebecca Brock, praised past staff and workers and urged transparency, saying “the past board, the current election staff, and the county poll workers have produced accurate and fair elections.”

What the board approved and scheduled - Early-voting schedules: The board adopted an early-voting plan for the Erwin municipal election that runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 3, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday Oct. 4, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. It adopted a separate early-voting schedule for the Andrews and Lillington municipal elections ahead of the Nov. 4 election, with early voting Oct. 16–Oct. 31 (weekdays 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and Saturday Nov. 1, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. - Flyers and outreach: The board approved two color flyers describing early-voting dates and sites for distribution. The board said it will post information on county channels and requested party assistance; Desiree, the county public-information officer, confirmed staff will post notices on Facebook, Nextdoor and other channels. - Judge and early-official appointments: The board set Aug. 19 to receive and approve party-submitted lists of chief judges and judges of election for a two-year term and set a Sept. 2 meeting to appoint early-voting officials as required by recent guidance (the director said parties must submit names five days before the Sept. 2 meeting). The director told the board she will provide the compiled list in advance of the Aug. 19 meeting so members can review it. - Precinct-notification steps: The board directed staff to mail notice letters to voters affected by precinct changes “either later this week or beginning of next week,” and confirmed that the Board of Elections will provide lists of affected voters to party organizations for targeted outreach. The Republican and Democratic local leaders present agreed to use party resources—websites, meetings and direct contact—to notify voters. - Ballot-on-demand demonstration: Staff scheduled a demonstration of a ballot-on-demand printing system for Sept. 9 (2 p.m.) and said commissioners, party leaders and other stakeholders will be invited; the board said it wants decision-makers to see the system because it would require county funding.

Ballot duplication policy tabled; absentee meeting time moved The board discussed a draft ballot-duplication policy and the state guidance that underpins it, but members asked for more time to review. A motion to table the ballot-duplication policy passed; the board did not adopt the policy at this meeting.

Separately, the board agreed to keep absentee-meeting activities at the elections office for upcoming municipal absentee sessions and to move the regular absentee-meeting start time to 6:30 p.m. for consistency with other meeting times. The director cited General Statute 163-230.1 (absentee meeting timing requirements) and noted that a 30-day public notice would be provided if times change.

Staff plans and training for precinct changes Director Claire (title given in meetings as director) told the board that staff had completed the precinct code changes and planned to mail updated voter cards; she said staff was performing last-minute audits and would provide the parties with lists of affected voters. Claire said the office will work with the parties on wording for outreach and with a public-information officer to push notices on county channels.

On polling-place operations, the board discussed special training for poll workers in four newly created precincts and the possible addition of extra staff at sites likely to draw voters who arrive at the wrong precinct. Claire said the office will bring in and train chief judges and two judges per precinct as needed to resolve problems on election day.

Poll-worker shortages and recruitment Board members said poll-worker reliability remains a concern: the director reported that 27 poll workers failed to show on election day in the previous election. Board members discussed recruitment strategies and numbers: staff estimated Harnett would need roughly 75 poll workers for the municipal contests (six precincts across five towns) and said a primary could require 250–300 workers. The board discussed recruiting through party chairs, outreach events, county career days and a possible county-employee incentive (county employees working election day without using vacation leave), which board members agreed would require action by the county commissioners.

The board also discussed using student election assistants as allowed by statute, with conditions: students must be at least 17 on election day, be recommended by a principal and meet other statutory restrictions; staff said two student assistants are allowed per side in a precinct and that student workers have been among the stronger volunteers when available.

Facility needs and capital-improvement planning Board members discussed whether to continue work on a capital-improvement plan (CIP) to pursue a dedicated elections facility or instead focus shorter-term on improvements to the county-owned building where the elections office operates. Staff said facilities/maintenance handles routine repairs but that major improvements would require a CIP and county budgeting. No formal vote was taken; the director said she would draft options — one showing upgrades to the current space and another outlining a new facility — and circulate them to the board.

Public meetings and next steps The board said it will host a stakeholders meeting on Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. with the board of county commissioners, the superintendent of schools and the sheriff to discuss early voting in schools and related logistics. The Sept. 9 ballot-on-demand demonstration is set for 2 p.m. The board scheduled Aug. 19 to approve chief judges and Sept. 2 to appoint early-voting officials.

Quotes from the meeting - “There should be 8 Republican and 7 Democratic chief judges for the 2025-26 election cycle,” public commenter Marge Mueller said during public comment. - “The past board, the current election staff, and the county poll workers have produced accurate and fair elections,” Rebecca Brock said. - “We have completed the code changes, and I plan on mailing those cards out either later this week or beginning of next week,” Director Claire said when describing voter-notification plans.

What the meeting did not decide The board tabled the ballot-duplication policy for later consideration, and it did not make a decision at this meeting on whether to pursue a new elections facility versus upgrading the current building. The board went into closed session later in the meeting for personnel matters under G.S. 143-318.11 and returned to open session afterward.

The board said members and staff will continue outreach with the political parties and county stakeholders, distribute the approved early-voting flyers and publish the early-voting schedules and absentee-meeting schedule on county channels in advance of the municipal contests.