ELIZABETHTOWN — Precinct judges and polls workers were shifted and absentee ballots filed through Monday were approved Tuesday by the Bladen County Board of Elections.
It was the first full meeting for Emory White, the first Republican to be seated with Democrats Louella Thompson, Patsy Sheppard and Deborah Belle. The meeting of two hours, 17 minutes started 15 minutes late.
Valeria McKoy, the interim director, said Bladen County through Monday had sent out 79 absentee by mail ballots, with 22 having come back and one being returned as undeliverable. The lack of contact information for the latter left nothing more that could be done, McKoy said.
Early voting at the Cypress Street election board office numbered another 296, with 51 having come last Wednesday, 91 Thursday, 69 Friday and 85 Monday. McKoy said the board had “several, not many” same-day applications.
The board had one mail-in ballot that drew the attention of McKoy and Veronica DeGraffenreid, and it was scanned and forwarded to the state board for review. On it, the witness signed 10 days before the voter.
The board formally accepted the mail-in ballots and the one-stop list.
The board spent more than hour going through the chief judges and poll workers. At the conclusion, they settled on 13 of 17 precincts being in compliance with inclusion of changes made Tuesday, and more work to be done for Abbotts, Carvers Creek, Central and White’s Creek.
The board was challenged in establishing valid chief judges and poll workers because, board members and DeGraffenreid agreed, the previous leadership had not followed state law. Their sticking points within those regulations were specifics to party affiliation and residency, family ties, and party affiliation remaining intact for replacements to appointed chief judges.
The board vowed a good faith efforts to follow the letter of the law.
McKoy’s report to the board included a copy of a letter to Kim Strach, director of the state board; updated contact information on the board; contact information for the county party chairmen and lawyers; listing of precinct contact persons and rents paid of precincts; notice on law books; and absentee witness certification.
Of note from that list was one change in rent for a polling place. The Bladen County Shriners Club, for the Central precinct, charges $500. A dozen other Election Day sites charge rent for use, and all of those are $100.
The board set its next meeting for Tuesday at 5 p.m.