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Buncombe elections board keeps early-voting hours after storm changes; public criticizes decision
Summary
The Buncombe County Board of Elections declined to extend evening early-voting hours after Hurricane Helene forced site and staffing changes, citing staff capacity and election integrity; a public commenter called the move voter suppression and demanded the board reverse course.
The Buncombe County Board of Elections on Oct. 29 finalized a revised early-voting plan that staff said was necessary after Hurricane Helene damaged some planned sites and stretched poll-worker resources. Director Duncan told the board the office had planned for the election for years and that staff had logged nearly 2,000 hours in emergency preparations; she said site changes and staffing limits made additional evening hours infeasible.
The board member who voted against extending hours said the change would have added roughly 50 additional hours of early voting across sites and could have risked "the integrity of our…
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