Buncombe County elections staff outlines early-voting plan, hires outreach coordinator and approves 2026 schedule

Corinne, an elections staff member, told the Buncombe County Board of Elections at its Jan. 6 meeting that ballot proofing is in its final stages and that sample ballots and the voter-lookup tool will be posted once proofs are approved. She said training for early voting and election day starts next week and that absentee ballots will be mailed starting Friday.

"This is our first meeting of the New Year, and I feel like we're off to a great start," Corinne said, noting staff had learned lessons running the recent municipal election at 35 Woodfin and were preparing for the primary.

Corinne also announced the board selected a new outreach coordinator who will begin Jan. 14, with overlap time approved so the outgoing staff member (Karen) can help with the handoff. Staff will circulate more details and introduce the new hire at a future meeting.

The board reviewed a tentative calendar of required meetings for 2026 — including the March primary, the general election and a possible second primary — and voted to approve the schedule as presented. Staff said the calendar is a draft and can be amended if needed.

The meeting included routine business such as approval of minutes and an amendment to the agenda to add a closed session on personnel at the meetingend; those motions passed by voice vote.

The board also noted a candidate challenge had been filed shortly before the meeting and that staff would provide required notices and set a candidate-challenge hearing for Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m.