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Harrisonburg electoral board hears volunteer concerns about precinct disruptions, ballot handling and campaign signs
Summary
At the Jan. 13 Harrisonburg City Electoral Board meeting, longtime volunteer Pat Hayden urged better training, backup staffing and clearer rules after disruptive large groups and signage disputes affected several early-voting precincts in November; board members and election staff acknowledged problems and discussed potential procedural changes.
Pat Hayden, a permanent auxiliary member of the Harrisonburg City Electoral Board, told the board during public comment on Jan. 13 that she was alarmed by behavior at several early‑voting precincts during the November election and urged better training and backup for officers of election.
Hayden said one instance involved a large, noisy group arriving together — people wearing matching T‑shirts associated with Church World Services — and that only two of the group actually voted. She said the noise and crowding hampered precinct operations and that on a previous occasion an individual had to be asked to leave and authorities called. "I just think in the future that we need to be really aware that we need to have more…
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