Buncombe County Board of Elections members voted to disapprove three absentee ballots that were received after the election deadline at the Nov. 6 meeting.

Staff told the board the envelopes and sealed ballots were presented for the board’s review under numbered memo 2020‑25. All three envelopes were returned after the deadline and therefore were not opened. Staff said one of the envelopes was mailed from Louisville, Kentucky on Oct. 25 and was received by county elections staff on Nov. 6; the other two were received by mail after the deadline and lacked postmarks.

Board members discussed how late‑mailed ballots are logged in SEAMs; staff said the system records a reason of “returned after deadline” so the voter’s record shows submission but disapproval. A board member said the county should consider following up with the postal service to reduce similar controversies in future elections.

A board member moved “that the Board of Elections disapprove the 3 ballots that were presented by staff, for the reason that they were not received timely by the Board of Elections.” The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff said the unapproved envelopes and the sealed ballots will be filed and archived and that the voter record will be updated to indicate the ballots were submitted but disapproved. The board will review the official results at the county canvass scheduled for Friday and staff will present the official tally then.

The board also asked staff to consider formalizing procedures for tracking postage and postmarks and to follow up with the post office on the late Louisville mailing.