Granville County elections board adopts corrected early‑voting schedule; deadlocks on most site changes while moving Wilton precinct

The Granville County Board of Elections on July 15 adopted a corrected early‑voting schedule for the November 2026 general election but remained divided over which polling locations to use.

At a special called meeting that drew more than a dozen public speakers, the board accepted dates and hours read by Doug Smith after Smith said he had mistakenly read a presidential‑year sheet at a prior meeting. "I made a mistake," Smith said, reading the corrected schedule aloud. The board then voted unanimously to adopt the clarified dates and times.

The meeting then turned to the contested question of where early voting should occur. The board considered whether to open an additional northern site after the county commissioners appropriated $60,000 that would pay to operate a fourth site if the elections board approved it. Attorney and parliamentarian Jerry Coinis told the board that some elements of a plan must be unanimous to avoid automatic referral to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Board member Sharon Alvarez moved a package of actions that would accept county funds to open a northern site, keep Oxford Public Works in place, and not close South Branch Library; the motion also included moving Wilton precinct because the Wilton Elementary School will close. The board tabled that package for discussion and then took the items separately.

The board voted unanimously to move the Wilton precinct to the Tar River Elementary auxiliary gym for election day, citing the school closure.

Votes on the other site questions split the board. A motion to keep South Branch Library open resulted in a 2‑2 tie (Alvarez and Theresa Gillis voting to keep it; Doug Smith and Chair Debbie Butler voting against), so the motion did not carry. A separate motion to retain Oxford Public Works likewise split 2‑2 and failed. A final motion to approve the operation of a fourth, county‑funded northern site (a "foresight") also ended in a 2‑2 tie and did not carry.

Because the board lacked unanimous agreement on some elements, the unresolved sections of the plan may be transmitted to the State Board of Elections for review under the relevant statute read during the meeting (the board referenced statute language governing whether a plan "disproportionately favors any party, racial group, or candidate").

The meeting record shows strong public opposition to closing the South Branch and Oxford Public Works sites. Commenters cited usage data and equity concerns: Kristen Hefner told the board that in 2024, 10,207 voters used Public Works and 9,420 used South Branch during early voting. Other residents warned that moving sites would increase distance and reduce access for voters who lack cars or rely on local transit.

Next steps: the board has completed the two agenda items on this special meeting. Unresolved items may be included in the board's majority/minority plan package to the State Board of Elections; the board also noted county commissioners will be informed of the outcome. A new chair is expected to be appointed imminently, after which the board may schedule a follow‑up meeting.