Buncombe County elections director outlines key dates, absentee rules and voting options for March 3 primary

Corrine Duncan, Buncombe County’s election services director, told WRES 100.7 hosts Zakiyyah Bo Rogers and Leonard Jones that the county’s primary Election Day is March 3 and urged residents to use early voting and absentee-by-mail options to avoid problems on Election Day.

Duncan said absentee-by-mail requests must be submitted by Feb. 17 and that mailed ballots must be returned by Election Day — “there’s no postmark grace,” she said on air. Once voters request a ballot, county staff verify registration and send an instruction packet and an envelope with an application; the completed ballot must include the voter’s signature and either two witnesses or a notary. Ballots returned early are reviewed at public board meetings, accepted if they meet requirements, scanned and added to the tallies, Duncan said.

The elections director said early voting begins Feb. 12 and that Buncombe County will offer 11…