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Residents urge board to keep Oxford Public Works and South Branch early‑voting sites, warn closures would restrict access
Summary
Dozens of residents told the Granville County Board of Elections that closing Oxford Public Works and South Branch Library would hamper access—particularly for Black voters, working‑hour voters and those without cars—and urged the board to accept county funding for a north site without closing existing locations.
Dozens of residents at the July 15 special meeting of the Granville County Board of Elections urged officials to preserve existing early‑voting sites and to avoid changes that would make voting harder for working people and Black voters.
Portia Lopes told the board public comment had already produced the statistics showing who uses which sites and warned: "There is no logical reason to close these 2 early voting sites unless the goal is to diminish access for the significant number of of our county's voters." She said public hearings show deep community concern about the proposed changes.
Kristen Hefner and others cited usage figures: "In '24, 10,207 voters voted early at public works. 9,420 voters use South Granville Library," Hefner said, urging the board to retain those sites now that county commissioners have appropriated funds to open an additional northern site without closing others.
Mike Butler, another speaker, pushed back on an argument about travel cost to the Expo Center, saying the driving distance would generate only a small fuel cost: "So the only way for that trip to cost him $8 would be to for him to stop at, the cookout along the way." Butler also argued the Expo Center has more parking, indoor room and handicap access than Public Works.
Other residents described practical barriers: some rely on local transit that stops near Public Works, others said walking to the Expo Center would be unsafe, and pastors and long‑time local voters stressed that Saturday voting dates and convenient locations matter for working voters.
Board members heard the public arguments but remained split. Sharon Alvarez urged accepting county funds to add a northern site while keeping the South Branch and Oxford locations; Doug Smith and Chair Debbie Butler repeatedly cited safety, staffing and logistical concerns about certain sites. Because several votes on site changes ended in 2‑2 ties, the board did not adopt a unanimous site plan and left key questions unresolved.
What happens next: unresolved elements of the early‑voting plan may be included in the majority/minority package that will be submitted to the North Carolina State Board of Elections for review. The board said it will also inform county commissioners and expects to appoint a new chair in the near term.
