Board puts on record a tentative $67,280 ask to add two early-voting sites

At the Jan. 6 meeting Buncombe County elections staff presented staffing scenarios for early voting and the cost to open two additional sites: a staffing-only estimate of $67,280.

A staff presenter explained the office operates two shifts over 2— weeks for early voting, that staffing (chief judges and party judges/workers) is the largest expense, and that the $67,280 figure covers staffing and the staffing-agency markup; additional costs for site rental and supplies would increase the total.

"Right now, it stands at $67,280 to open 2 additional sites," the presenter said. The board discussed trade-offs: more sites with fewer machines versus fewer sites with more machines, parking and curbside voting capacity, and workforce availability for hard-to-staff locations.

Speaker 3 moved that the board tentatively include $67,280 plus additional costs in its budget request to add two early-voting sites if suitable sites and staff can be identified. After discussion about timing, staffing constraints and the county budget-justification process, the board voted to approve placing the request on record and to proceed through the county's budget steps and justifications.

Staff emphasized that the $67,280 figure reflects staffing only and that site rent, supplies and other operational costs were not included in that amount.