Author: Kim Strach, Executive Director
The following numbered memos detailed new requirements and procedures for one-stop voting schedules for the primary and general elections in 2014 and 2016:
- One-Stop Early Voting in the 2014 Primary and Session Law 2013-381’s Hours-Matching Requirement: Numbered Memo 2013-05 (Oct. 17, 2013)
- One-Stop Implementation Plans for the May 2014 Primary: Numbered Memo 2014-01 (Jan. 7, 2014)
- May 2014 Primary One-Stop Hours Reduction Requests: Numbered Memo 2014-02 (Jan. 10, 2014)
This memo reviews requirements for the 2014 general election.
Once again, counties are required to offer at least as many cumulative hours of one-stop voting as were offered four years previous (2010). Attached, find a calculation of total hours for one-stop offered by each county during the 2010 general election, along with this office’s record of statewide one-stop schedules. The total cumulative hours indicated for each county represent the minimum number hours that county must offer one-stop voting during the 2014 general election.
Because all counties will need to extend hours and/or open additional one-stop sites for the 2014 general election in order to meet their minimum hours requirements, all counties must submit a one-stop implementation plan as outlined below.
Implementation Plan Form
Because the number of sites will vary greatly between smaller and larger counties, we have provided multiple versions of the implementation plan form online (link provided in the e-mail of this numbered memo). Use the version that has enough pages to list each of your county’s one-stop sites. The implementation plan must be returned either bearing the signatures of all three board members or accompanied by a unanimous resolution of the county board. Once again, all documents (including accessibility documentation for new voting sites) must be sent to the State Board of Elections office via the FTP (link provided in the e-mail of this numbered memo).
One-stop implementation plans are due to the State Board of Elections no later than Thursday, July 31, 2014.
One-Stop Matters To Be Heard by the State Board
Nonunanimous Plans
If the county board is not unanimous in its designation of one-stop sites, one or more Members may petition for review by the State Board of Elections. Petitions should be submitted, using the one-stop implementation plan form, as soon as possible to allow the State Board time to schedule a meeting.
Petitions relating to non-unanimous implementation plans must be submitted to the State Board of Elections no later than Thursday, July 31, 2014.
If alternate proposed implementation plans are sent by different county board members from the same board, the director should provide the State Board a cover letter summarizing the differences between the proposed plans.
Unanimous Requests To Reduce the Number of Required Hours
Applicable law allows a unanimous county board to request a reduction in the number of required cumulative hours, although a request can be granted only by a unanimous vote of the State Board. Counties should note that the Governor’s office has “strongly encouraged” State Board Members to reject any hours reduction requests for the 2014 general election (see Number of hours for early voting in NC slips slightly, News and Observer, April 23, 2014). Further, after seeing an increase in the number of one-stop voters between the 2010 primary and 2014 primary, we should expect a similar increase in voter traffic for the 2014 general election.
Hours reduction requests will not be accepted after Friday, July 18, 2014.
Questions can be directed to George McCue at george.mccue@ncsbe.gov. We look forward to working with you to ensure a smooth one-stop voting period in October.
↓ One-Stop Voting for the 2014 General Election: Numbered Memo 2014-08 (PDF)