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Resident urges end to religious invocations and raises election‑access concerns; commissioners say election rules are set by Raleigh
Summary
A public commenter told the Onslow County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18 that the board’s invocation practice violates the establishment clause and raised concerns about local election access and the Board of Elections’ staffing and early‑voting locations.
A public commenter told the Onslow County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18 that the board’s invocation practice violates the establishment clause and raised concerns about local election access and the Board of Elections’ staffing and early‑voting locations.
"The board is violating its own policies in addition to the law and our rights by ignoring the establishment clause," said Ari Rakowitz during the public‑comment period, calling on the county to take actions that respect diverse beliefs. Rakowitz also criticized what he described as underfunding and understaffing of the Board of Elections, questioned the cancellation or relocation of a BOE workshop and urged more early‑voting locations across municipalities rather than a single site in Georgetown.
Commissioner Tony Bennett disputed broad claims that the BOE is underfunded, saying the county "funds the Board of Elections every year... at almost exactly the amount that they asked for," and that the county increases the BOE budget in years with shortages. Bennett added that election rules such as the use of drop boxes are established by the North Carolina General Assembly, not the county.
Rakowitz also asked about municipal support for maintenance and lighting at Georgetown Park and said he would return with more documentation; the board noted that Georgetown Park is a city facility (city of Jacksonville), not a county park.
Meeting actions: The board approved several procedural items by voice vote early in the meeting — an amendment to remove an agenda item noted in the transcript as "aprez 2025 000016," a consent‑agenda amendment removing item 2b, adoption of the amended agenda, and approval of the consent agenda. A motion to adjourn was made and carried at the end of the meeting by voice vote.
What’s next: Rakowitz said he will return with additional context; commissioners reiterated the county will work through appropriate channels on BOE support and municipal issues.
