Bland County Electoral Board votes to move Seddon precinct to county library

The Bland County Electoral Board voted unanimously Sept. 26 to pursue relocating the Seddon precinct to the Bland County Library, which board members said is ADA compliant and county owned.

Vice Chair Brenda Thompson moved to pursue the relocation and Secretary Dorothy "Dot" Kidd seconded; the motion passed with all members voting yes. Chair Molly Thompson and the other members joined the roll-call vote approving the move.

The board earlier met in a closed session to review the Locality Election Security Standards (LESS). Vice Chair Brenda Thompson moved that the board and the director convene the closed session pursuant to Code of Virginia §§ 24.2-410.2 and 24.2-625.1; Secretary Dorothy Kidd seconded and the motion passed. The closed session began at approximately 2:04 p.m. and the board certified upon reconvening that the only matters discussed were those identified in the motion. The board recorded the certification vote as unanimous.

General Registrar and Director of Elections Stacy Tibbs Grady told the board that absentee and early voting were proceeding without issue. "At this time there have been 117 absentee ballots mailed and 30 in person voters," Grady said.

The board approved the meeting agenda and minutes from its Aug. 22, 2023 meeting earlier in the session by unanimous votes. Members set the next meeting for Oct. 24, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. and adjourned at 2:26 p.m.

No additional details about the LESS review were disclosed because the discussion was held in closed session under the cited state statutes.