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 early-voting sites. She named several locations, including Black Mountain Library, East Asheville Library, Enka-Candler Library, Fairview Library, Leicester Community Center, North Asheville Library, South Buncombe Library, Upper Hominy Fire Station (a new site), Weaverville Community Center, Wesley Grant Southside Center and West Asheville Library. For the complete schedule and hours at each site, Duncan directed listeners to the county’s elections webpage.

Duncan described the county’s use of express-vote ballot-marking devices during early voting: voters make selections on a screen, the machine prints a paper ballot and the voter places that printed ballot into a tabulator. She said the machines provide accessibility features — including audio and adjustable contrast and font size — and that the devices mark but do not tabulate votes.

On who appears on the March ballot, Duncan listed judges, the district attorney, U.S. House and U.S. Senate contests, one Buncombe County Commissioner seat (District 2), the sheriff and Asheville City Council races. She also explained how primaries work in North Carolina: partisan primaries narrow candidates within parties, while nonpartisan races narrow candidates generally; unaffiliated voters in North Carolina may choose which party primary to vote in where allowed.

Duncan emphasized other voter services: the registration deadline noted on the program is Feb. 6; voters can register by paper or through the DMV, and same-day registration is available during early voting with proof of residence (for example, a power bill). She said the elections office can produce a free photo ID for voting after verifying registration details; the office’s current address is 35 Woodfin Street in Asheville, and the elections office phone number is (828) 250-4200. For official guidance and the full schedule, she directed listeners to the county elections website and the State Board of Elections site.

On election integrity, Duncan said the county layers safeguards — certified equipment, ongoing audits during the voting period and a state board investigation unit that reviews irregularities when reported — and encouraged members of the public to report concerns so they can be investigated. She also encouraged residents to serve as poll workers (must be a registered voter, 18 and a Buncombe County resident) and described MAT (multi-partisan assistance teams) that visit assisted-living facilities to help voters.

The program closed with hosts and Duncan encouraging listeners, especially first-time and young voters, to participate and use the available resources. The elections office website and phone line provide schedules, sample ballots and other details ahead of the March 3 primary.