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Board splits 3'to'2 over general'election early voting schedule, files competing options with State Board
Summary
After public comments urging Sunday hours, the Rockingham County Board of Elections split over the general'election early voting plan: a majority backed Option 2 (two Saturdays) and a minority backed Option 5 (one Saturday plus a three'hour Sunday); because no unanimous decision was reached, both options will be submitted to the State Board of Elections for final action.
The Rockingham County Board of Elections failed to reach unanimous agreement June 16 on the county'wide general'election early voting schedule and will forward both the majority and minority proposals to the State Board of Elections.
The board considered seven plans. Dr. Jones moved to adopt Option 2, which schedules two Saturdays (October 24 and October 31); that motion passed by voice vote and later was recorded as carrying three votes to two. Mr. White offered Option 5 as a minority position: a required Saturday (Oct. 31) plus a three'hour Sunday (Oct. 24) to serve voters who need Sunday hours; that motion received two votes to three with one member recorded as abstaining.
"Unless you just want to spend more money for the principle of not doing a Sunday," Mr. White said in urging the board to consider a Sunday slot in deference to local NAACP requests. The board read an email from the Rockingham County NAACP asking the board to include Sunday hours, saying Sunday voting "provides another opportunity for those community efforts to succeed." Reverend Dr. Kenneth Moore and Rochelle Tucker signed the letter.
Public commenters also urged additional weekend hours. Anne Brady, representing the county Democratic Party, presented county turnout figures she said showed strong per'hour turnout on Saturdays (a claimed 237% increase for primary Saturdays versus weekdays, and roughly 64'65% increases for weekend hours in general elections) and recommended either a Sunday + Saturday combination or two Saturdays.
Board members who opposed Sunday hours did so on operational and staffing grounds. "I'm not going to make our people work seven days a week," Dr. Gunn said, arguing staff deserve a day of rest and noting North Carolina already provides many early voting days. Other members echoed concerns about employee schedules and the logistics of covering extra weekend shifts.
Because the board could not reach the unanimous vote the county required to set a single local plan, staff confirmed they will file both a majority option (Option 2) and a minority option (Option 5) with the State Board of Elections. The county must submit early'voting plans to the state by July 24; the state will determine whether hearings will be virtual or in Raleigh and may require county representatives to defend their respective options.
The board's split reflects a tension between maximizing voter access on weekends and limiting additional staffing demands; the State Board of Elections will make the final determination.
