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Board adopts rule barring elections staff from conducting official business inside churches without majority approval
Summary
The Harnett County Board of Elections approved a motion prohibiting staff from conducting official Board business inside churches or other religious facilities unless the majority of the Board gives permission; the motion followed discussion about past church-based registration events and passed on an affirmative vote.
Speaker 1 moved a policy motion restricting where staff may conduct official business: "Staff members of the Harnett County Board of Elections are prohibited from going into any church or any other building used for religious purposes to conduct any official business of the Harnett County Board of Elections," the motion stated, adding staff may attend such events only if the majority of the Board specifically grants permission.
Board members asked for clarification about whether the motion would ban all past church outreach. Staff acknowledged the office had participated in church events in the past—naming several occasions—and the motion’s intent was to formalize a restriction unless the Board authorizes a particular event. After brief discussion and a request for clarification, the board voted; Speaker 1 called for the ayes and the chair recorded the motion as carried.
There was no roll-call or tally recorded in the transcript. The motion appears to be an internal policy adopted by the Board; staff will apply it moving forward and seek Board permission for any church-sponsored outreach that involves official Board business.
Next steps: staff will enforce the policy and the board will respond to any requests to permit specific events on a case-by-case basis.
