Buncombe County elections staff recommends keeping 12 early-voting sites, opening the first Saturday and exploring a mobile voting unit; board schedules follow‑

Chair opened the Buncombe County Board of Elections meeting and the board approved the agenda and three sets of minutes before staff delivered several operational updates and the primary agenda item: the early voting plan.

Assistant Director Nagy presented staff's review of public input and site availability, saying the county's online engagement generated roughly 4,600 page views, about 5,700 survey interactions and more than 1,000 participants who provided written comments. Based on that input and logistics analysis, staff recommended keeping a 12-site early-voting plan, adding Friendship Center as the 12th site and opening the first Saturday of the early-voting period (proposed Oct. 17) in addition to the previously planned Saturdays. Nagy said opening that first Saturday would bring the plan to 16 of 17 possible early-voting days while preserving current weekend hours (weekend peak hours of 10 a.m.-3 p.m.).

Nagy walked the board through site availability updates: Big Ivy Community Center (Barnesville) and Opera Hominy (Candler) had verbally confirmed availability; AB Tech (Asheville campus), Warren Wilson and Avery's Creek were additional options staff had inspected or intended to inspect. Several previously considered sites were unavailable because of programming conflicts or campus construction (UNCA was cited as not available this cycle). Nagy emphasized parking, accessibility and transit access as primary selection criteria and said staff had tried to contact dozens of suggested sites with mixed responses.

The presentation also introduced a logistical option staff described as "outside the box": a leased mobile voting unit (an RV equipped for ADA access and room for express vote machines) that a vendor could make available as a site using parking lots as staging areas. Nagy said leasing costs were not yet available, the option is not budgeted for the current cycle and weekend scheduling conflicts (sports at ballparks) would need mitigation. Board members discussed alternatives used previously, including large, steel-framed tents the state had provided during a prior emergency deployment; staff noted those tents had floors, locking points and state service support for security in 2024.

Public commenters urged greater campus access and attention to young voters: Melissa Cole Esig asked the board to consider UNCA or other college-centered options to make voting easier for students; Tom Sullivan recommended Friendship Center as a proven overflow site for busy libraries. A Common Cause volunteer suggested testing a mobile unit at UNC Asheville's wellness center for future cycles.

Board members debated adding an Upper Hominy Fire Station site to improve access in outlying parts of the county; staff noted previous low turnout at some rural sites, staffing challenges (many sites require multiple trained staff per shift) and the time needed for voters to learn new locations. Nagy said the primary turnout pattern is different from general elections and recommended choices that maximize convenience and efficient use of staff resources.

On process, the board agreed to meet next Monday at 3:30 p.m. to continue the early-voting discussion and invited the county attorney for a potential closed session to finalize an MOU on related matters. The board made and passed a motion authorizing a vote on Monday if the board reaches consensus then; if not, the formal vote remains on the July 14 agenda and the county must submit an early voting plan to the State Board by July 24.

What remains unresolved: the county has not yet decided on the mobile unit option (leasing cost and permitting unknown), and a final 12-site list was to be confirmed in follow-up staff work. Staff will provide additional cost and logistics details for mobile/tent options and will circulate updated site maps and recommendations ahead of the Monday meeting.

Ending: The board closed the discussion by affirming staff will return with supplementary cost and availability details and by scheduling the follow-up Monday meeting (3:30 p.m.) where the board may vote if it reaches consensus.