ELIZABETHTOWN — Bladen County is back to a full complement for its Board of Elections.
Michael T. Aycock, a Republican, has been given approval by the state Board of Elections and was appointed and sworn in Wednesday. Niki S. Dennis, clerk of Superior Court, administered the oath of office.
The Bladen County board includes Louella Thompson, Patsy Sheppard, Deborah Belle and Emery White. Thompson is the chairwoman. Thompson, Sheppard and Belle are Democrats, and White and Aycock represent the Republican Party.
All county boards were re-established earlier this year. In Bladen County, getting the full membership was delayed for various reasons. The state board, in particular, declined to approve nominees who were on the board previously when the county became the central point of voting irregularities that led to multiple races not being verified from the November election.
Thompson, Sheppard and Belle were sworn in April 15; White was sworn in xx.
The voting problems led to criminal charges against McCrae Dowless, Rebecca D. Thompson, Matthew Monroe Mathis, Tonia Marie Gordon and Caitlyn Croom.
The board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. The next meeting is Aug. 13.