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Election director urges compromise as residents oppose removing schools as voting sites
Summary
Residents and the Harnett County Board of Elections director told the school board that removing schools as polling places would limit access and capacity; the board postponed consideration of a joint resolution on removing schools from voting-site lists to the March meeting.
The Harnett County Board of Education on Tuesday heard a steady stream of public comments opposing a county commission proposal to remove school buildings as early-voting sites and polling places.
"I asked you if you will please cease and desist this partisan joint resolution and work with us," Lewis Bell, a lifelong Harnett County resident, told the board during public comment, urging collaboration with the Board of Elections rather than unilateral action.
Claire Jones, director of the Harnett County Board of Elections, told the board that while schools are not perfect venues for every election, they are often the only spaces that can handle the volume and accessibility needs of large precincts. "One potential solution that I would like to propose as a compromise is to remove schools as early voting sites while allowing them to function as polling places on Election Day," Jones said, urging a middle ground that maintains voter access while addressing school disruptions.
Board members earlier agreed to remove the item from the night's agenda and consider the joint resolution at the March meeting. Several public commenters — including poll workers and longtime local voters — described long lines and heavy turnout at school sites in western parts of the county and warned that eliminating schools without clear alternate sites would create access problems.
Bill McNutt, a member of the Board of Elections who submitted materials to the board, advised the board to follow statutory processes for setting early-voting sites and to work with election officials before adopting policy changes. He said the statute governing early-voting sites requires discussions between the facility's governing body and the Board of Elections and provides an administrative resolution path if the parties cannot agree.
The board did not vote on substantive policy at the meeting; it moved the item to March for further consideration with the expectation that staff and county officials will coordinate in advance.
