Madison County elections board upholds M. William Brooks Wallace’s Nov. 5 vote after eligibility protest

MADISON COUNTY, N.C. — The Madison County Board of Elections on Dec. 2 held a special evidentiary protest hearing and unanimously voted to allow M. William Brooks Wallace’s Nov. 5, 2024 vote to stand.

Chair Jerry Wallin called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the county administration conference room in Marshall. Secretary Dyatt Smathers moved that the board accept exhibits 1, 2 and 3 into the record; the motion, as recorded, was seconded and passed 5-0. The board then considered a protest challenging Wallace’s eligibility to vote in the 2024 general election.

Secretary Dyatt Smathers moved that Wallace’s November 5, 2024 vote be allowed to stand; the minutes record a seconder identified by the initials “BB.” The motion passed unanimously, 5-0, sustaining Wallace’s vote. The board then voted (motion by Smathers, second as recorded) to direct the board attorney and the election director to prepare and send a dismissal notice to the involved parties; that motion also passed 5-0.

Jacob Ray, the county election director, and Jennifer S. Blalock, the meeting’s court reporter, were listed as present; two members of the public attended. The meeting record lists members Jerry Wallin (chair), Dyatt Smathers (secretary), Drian Ball, Ray Lewis and Debbie Ponder as the board membership in attendance.

The hearing was procedural in nature and did not record extended testimony in the minutes provided. The meeting adjourned at 4:51 p.m. after the board’s unanimous votes. A full transcript is available via public records request.