# Board of Elections Meeting | Jan. 15, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Board of Elections
**Date:** January 15, 2026 2:01 PM EST (2026-01-15T14:01:01-05:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1071

## Summary

**Board of Elections Meeting Recap: January 15, 2026**

The Buncombe County Board of Elections met on January 15, 2026, primarily to prepare for upcoming legal proceedings and address administrative updates. The agenda included office updates, a discussion on a recent public records request, and a detailed presentation on the procedures for candidate challenge hearings. The board approved the meeting agenda by unanimous vote.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to training the board on how to conduct two candidate challenge hearings scheduled for January 20 at 2:30 PM. County Attorney Kurt Euler provided legal guidance on the quasi-judicial process, clarifying that the burden of proof lies with the challenged candidate to demonstrate their eligibility by a "preponderance of the evidence," meaning it is more likely true than not. The presentation outlined specific procedural steps, including three-minute opening statements, the presentation of evidence and witness testimony under oath, and two-minute closing arguments. The board was instructed that public comment is not permitted during the hearings; individuals wishing to testify must be sworn in and are subject to cross-examination. Additionally, board members were cautioned to avoid ex parte communications—discussing the case with anyone outside the formal hearing process—and to report any such contact if it occurs.

Executive Director Karine Duncan provided updates on election readiness, noting that absentee ballots are being distributed and sample ballots are available online. She highlighted that outreach materials, including flyers and palm cards explaining how to vote, are available for community distribution. Duncan also announced that Rachel Wunderlich, a new outreach coordinator previously employed by the county, has joined the team. Regarding a recent public records request from the organization "American Oversight," Duncan noted that while such requests are not unique to Buncombe County, this one was unusual because it was directed specifically to the Board of Elections. The request inquired about the use of personal phone numbers and email addresses for board business, prompting Duncan to remind the board of the importance of separating personal and county communications to ensure compliance with public records laws.

The board also clarified the requirements for the annual ethics disclosure form, noting that appointed board members are not required to submit this form, unlike some county employees. No formal public comments were taken during the meeting.

Several follow-up actions were identified for the coming weeks. The Executive Director will introduce the new outreach coordinator, Rachel Wunderlich, at a future meeting. Board members are encouraged to distribute the available outreach materials in their communities. Following the January 20 hearings, the board will prepare written statements documenting their findings of fact and decisions. To assist with this, the Executive Director will provide a template order for these written statements.

This meeting serves as a critical preparation step for the board as it moves into the candidate challenge hearings. By reviewing the legal standards and procedural rules, the board aims to ensure that the upcoming hearings are conducted in a fair, impartial, and legally sound manner, maintaining transparency in the election process.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Rr6mjnbbY
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/670/segments

## Documents

- [supporting_2026-01-15.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1071?document=15039)
- [supporting_2026-01-15_2.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1071?document=15040)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Rr6mjnbbY)