ELIZABETHTOWN — The Bladen County Board of Elections met on Tuesday morning and voted 2-1 to proceed with combining Elizabethtown 1 and Elizabethtown 2, along with Bladenboro 1 and Bladenboro 2 precincts. Board of Elections member Al T. Daniels was the dissenting vote.
Board of Elections member Brian Hehl said he and Board of Elections Director Cynthia Shaw spoke with Neil Baddour of the State Board of Elections in Raleigh.
“According to the State Board of Elections, if we did consolidate, what we have to do is take Elizabethtown 1 and absorb Elizabethtown 2 into one precinct,” said Hehl.
He added that State Board of Elections requires a majority vote for a resolution. He told the board that once it is approved, a package is sent to the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh for final approval.
“I am absolutely against doing any consolidation of precincts at this time,” said Daniels.
He added that if the board was willing to wait and pick up the discussion after the 2016 election cycle, he would be willing to revisit the issue.
“My thoughts are if you put it in now, they are not going to do approve anything before the primary,” said Ludlum.
After further discussion, Ludlum called for the vote. Daniels cast the lone no vote.
A package will now be sent to the State Board of Elections in Raleigh for a final approval.
Erin Smith can be reached at 910-862-4163.