# Board of Elections Meeting | July 17, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Board of Elections
**Date:** July 14, 2026 3:32 PM EDT (2026-07-14T15:32:53-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2969

## Summary

**Buncombe County Board of Elections Meeting Recap**
**Date:** July 14, 2026

The Buncombe County Board of Elections convened on July 14, 2026, to address administrative updates, voting logistics, and voter roll maintenance. The meeting was attended by Board Members Jake, Mary Ann, Courtney, and Speaker 7, alongside Executive Director Green Duncan and Voting Location Coordinator Ryan Oliver. Board Member Sally was absent due to travel, and Board Member Jake attended while noting he was unwell. The board began by approving the streamlined agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting by voice vote, establishing the procedural foundation for the day’s discussions.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on operational updates and voting location contingencies. Executive Director Green Duncan provided status reports on candidate coordinator hiring, filing periods, and the upcoming State Board of Elections Conference. Voting Location Coordinator Ryan Oliver reported that Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, a current polling site, is undergoing ownership changes in August and has not yet confirmed its ability to host voting. In response, the board moved to designate AC Reynolds High School as a backup location if the church cannot host. This motion, made by Board Member Mary Ann and seconded by Board Member Courtney, passed by voice vote, ensuring a contingency plan is in place by early August.

The board also engaged in substantive debate regarding the inclusion of Sunday voting in the county’s early voting plan. Director Duncan clarified that weekend voting is optional and determined by the board. Board Member Jake advocated for maintaining Sunday hours, arguing that despite historically lower turnout, removing Sunday voting would create barriers for community access. He noted that Sunday has been included in every even-year election since 2012. The Chair acknowledged that the plan had already been submitted and approved, but the discussion highlighted the board’s commitment to ensuring equitable access for voters who may rely on Sunday hours.

A major focus of the meeting was the handling of 41 voter challenges filed by Thomas Neubauer, who alleged that the voters in question had passed away. The board divided the cases for review and subsequently moved to schedule full evidentiary hearings for all 41 cases at the next meeting on August 25. Board Member Courtney seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote. Director Duncan explained that while administrative removals require a "perfect match" of records, board hearings provide necessary due process for voters whose records may contain minor discrepancies or who do not appear on Department of Health and Human Services lists.

During the review of these challenges, Board Member Courtney shared a personal statement regarding her experience caring for her elderly mother with dementia. She described the emotional toll and practical difficulties of managing her mother’s phone to prevent spam calls, providing context to the review process without making a formal public comment request. No other members of the public spoke during the meeting. The board did not respond to this personal statement with formal action, though it was noted as part of the record during the challenge review.

Looking ahead, the board has scheduled full evidentiary hearings for the 41 voter challenges for August 25. Staff will send notices to the challengers, the affected voters, and county party chairs regarding these hearings. Additionally, Director Duncan agreed to answer specific questions from Board Members Jake and Mary Ann regarding voter roll maintenance procedures and the results of a recent state audit. The state board is currently conducting an audit of voter roll maintenance and will provide a report with recommendations for clear match criteria to counties, which Director Duncan will share once available. These steps ensure that due process is afforded to voters while maintaining the integrity of the voter rolls.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgVDw8AWwNI
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2019/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgVDw8AWwNI)