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Transylvania elections director outlines contingency plans for early voting after storm
Summary
Elections Director Jeff Storey told commissioners the county’s early‑voting locations will remain open, absentee processes were relaxed by state resolution for affected counties, and MAT teams can assist voters at shelters and disaster sites. The board discussed moving one precinct temporarily to the Family Life Center.
Jeff Storey, Transylvania County’s elections director, briefed the board on changes permitted by the state after storm damage in western North Carolina and how the county will run the 2024 early‑voting period.
Storey said a state board resolution expanded flexibility for 25 storm‑affected counties to alter early‑voting plans and precinct locations. Transylvania County’s two planned early‑voting sites were intact, so the county did not change hours or days, but the board planned to move the Cedar Mountain precinct to the Family Life Center for the election to preserve the precinct footprint while using a less‑damaged facility.
The resolution also allows county boards to issue absentee ballots over the counter, to accept ballots from displaced voters who are temporarily in other counties, and to extend absentee request windows to the day before election day. Storey said the county will log and chain‑of‑custody over‑the‑counter ballots and provide daily early‑voting reports.
Multipartisan Assistance Teams (MAT) can be dispatched to covered facilities, shelters and disaster sites to assist voters with absentee ballots when requested. On witness requirements for absentee ballots, Storey said voters must provide two witnesses or a notary; two witnesses can include a spouse and another adult.
Storey said the county had replacement worker capacity in‑county (32 appointed precinct workers and 42 early‑voting workers) and the county could accept help from out‑of‑precinct or out‑of‑county workers when allowed by statute and the state resolution. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about moving a precinct, witness rules and how MAT teams are requested by facility operators; Storey said the county will reach out to facilities first and act on request. The board had no further changes to the election plan.
