# Board of Elections Meeting: Oct. 29, 2024

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Board of Elections
**Date:** October 29, 2024 3:32 PM EDT (2024-10-29T15:32:26-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1957

## Summary

The Buncombe County Board of Elections convened on October 29, 2024, to address preparations for the upcoming general election. The agenda included the approval of minutes, office updates regarding election logistics, a discussion on the early voting plan, and the review of absentee ballots. The meeting focused heavily on managing high voter turnout and addressing operational challenges at early voting locations.

**Key Decisions**
The Board took several formal actions during the session. First, the Board approved the minutes from the previous meetings held on October 15/16 and October 22/23. Second, the Board approved an additional meeting scheduled for Friday, November 1, at 3:30 PM to review the growing backlog of absentee ballots. Third, the Board approved 226 overseas civilian ballots. The transcript summary does not specify the vote counts or indicate whether these votes were unanimous or split; it only confirms that the items were approved.

**Discussion Highlights**
Director Duncan provided a detailed report on election preparations, highlighting that the county is experiencing a very high volume of absentee ballots and early voting turnout, with over 90,000 voters (over 40% of registered voters) having already participated. He noted that the implementation of “express votes” has proven successful in speeding up voter processing. Director Duncan also reported that permanent staff logged nearly 2,000 hours between October 27th and 18th. He addressed parking challenges at early voting locations, specifically at Inca Candler, South Asheville Library, and Weaverville, noting that additional parking attendants have been deployed. Minor difficulties with voting machines were reported and are being addressed promptly. Additionally, an incident involving a campaigner and a voter was reported and forwarded to the State Board.

Regarding the early voting plan, the Board discussed adjustments made due to hurricane conditions. The Board reaffirmed its decision not to extend early voting hours, citing concerns about staff workload and potential impact on election integrity. A shuttle service is also being provided to shelters to assist voters in accessing early voting locations.

**Community Input**
During the public comment period, Mr. Rondell Lance expressed concerns about the decision not to extend early voting hours, accusing the Board of suppressing voter turnout. In response, the Board emphasized their commitment to fair elections, transparency, and the importance of upholding election integrity.

**Follow-ups**
Staff members explicitly agreed to continue processing absentee ballots in preparation for the election, continue efforts to manage parking at early voting locations, and monitor media coverage to respond to inquiries as needed.

**Impact**
This meeting addressed the logistical strain caused by high voter participation in Buncombe County. By approving an additional review meeting for November 1, the Board is addressing the backlog of absentee ballots to ensure they are processed in a timely manner. The approval of 226 overseas civilian ballots ensures that these eligible voters are included in the count. The Board’s decision to maintain the current early voting schedule, despite high turnout, reflects a balance between accommodating voters and managing staff resources and election integrity.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAtq5ExzNAk
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1417/segments

## Documents

- [supporting_2024-10-29.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/1957?document=15018)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAtq5ExzNAk)