Board highlights election-security planning after conference concerns

Board Chair Weinert and members spent a substantial portion of the Aug. 25 Buncombe County Board of Elections meeting discussing election-security takeaways from a recent conference and what the county is doing to prepare.

Board member Sally described security scenarios discussed in conference breakouts — including drones dropping leaflets, bomb threats, suspicious substances, firearms and arson — and asked whether the county’s protocols align with the sheriff’s office and whether federal actors such as ICE or the FBI could appear at polling locations. "I just don't want to gloss over this," Sally said, urging the board to confirm plans and training ahead of the election.

Director Corinne responded that Buncombe County uses an "all-hazards approach" and maintains an internal emergency plan with bomb-threat checklists and other procedures per phase (pre-election, early voting, election day). She said the county coordinates monthly with emergency management and has held preliminary meetings with municipal law enforcement and the county sheriff. "For this election ... we'll have our briefing, which is coming up in September. And then early October, we'll have a tabletop, which will have all of the departments. The board will be invited," Corinne said. She described exercising scenarios with poll workers and department staff and following those events with after-action reviews.

Members asked about contingency contact lists and whether the EOC would be staffed in person on election day; Corinne said the county will have an in‑person Emergency Operations Center to support on-the-ground coordination rather than relying on phone or remote connections. The presentation emphasized preparation and coordination rather than new policy changes; the board did not take a formal vote on additional security measures during this meeting.