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Elections office seeks staffing and connectivity upgrades for remote polling site
Summary
Elections staff requested converting a part‑time elections position to full time, more training, and improved connectivity at the Alarka polling site; commissioners discussed landline, Starlink and mobile‑hotspot options and asked staff for cost comparisons.
Swain County budget staff and commissioners discussed staffing and infrastructure needs for the county elections office, including a request to convert a part‑time employee to full time and additional training and travel funding.
The elections office requested making an existing part‑time position full time; budget staff said that change would add about $20,000–$25,000 in payroll and related benefits. The office also asked for a training/travel increase (the request listed up to $12,000) to fund optional national certification courses described by the elections director, who noted some training programs span multiple years and require travel.
A second topic was connectivity at the Alarka (Lark) polling site, which election staff said lacks reliable cellular or wired Internet service. Commissioners and staff discussed three options: installing a landline (recommended as the most reliable single‑day solution), using a Starlink terminal (high upfront cost and ongoing monthly fees) or using county mobile hotspots already in inventory. Budget staff said the county already owns some mobile hotspots and could explore sharing equipment across departments; they also suggested checking whether the local fire station or EMS has Internet that could be used or extended for election day. Commissioners asked staff to return with cost estimates and feasibility options.
Why it matters: reliable connectivity at remote polling locations is necessary for election operations (equipment, communications and voter processing). Commissioners asked staff to weigh the cost of converting the part‑time position versus keeping the worker temporary while funding optional training, and to return with a fuller cost comparison of connectivity options before the board makes any budget commitments.
