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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard Meeting Agenda Packet 05-12-2026 MEETING AGENDA Date: May 12, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Board of Elections Office, Board Room Type: Regular Scheduled Attendees: Jamie Getty, Chair Eric Navagh, Interim Elections Deputy Director Mark Payne, Board Legal Counsel Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Administrative Technician Denise Brown, Election Compliance Specialist Joey Worsley, Election Database & Systems Specialist Kristen Daley, Education and Communication Coordinator Gina Herring, Elections Specialist Regina Stokes, Elections Specialist John Lyon, Secretary Derrick R. Miller, Member James (Jim) Battle Morgan, Jr., Member Beverly Setz, Member Visitor(s): Lisa Wurtzbacher, Assistant County Manager; Derek Bowens, Durham County Elections Director AGENDA ITEMS 1. Meeting Opening a. Call to Order b. Pledge of Allegiance c. Approval of Agenda d. Approval of Minutes (04/14/2026) 2. Public Comment Period a. 2-minute limit b. 20-minute limit total 3. Department Update a. List Maintenance Update 4. General Discussion a. Other Elections-Related Matters 5. Closed Session (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 143-318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6) 6. Adjournment *Agenda packets are sent via email in advance of meetings. This page intentionally left blank. Page | 3 ITEM # 1c Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: Approval of Agenda Summary: N/A Board Action Required: Staff recommends approval This page intentionally left blank. Page | 5 ITEM # 1d Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: Approval of Minutes Applicable Statutes and/or Rules: N.C. Gen Stat. § 163‑31 (e) and 143-318.10(e) Summary: This includes minutes from the April 14, 2026, Regular Meeting. Board Action Required: Staff recommends approval This page intentionally left blank. Board Minutes – 04/14/2026 Page | 1 REGULAR MEETING New Hanover County Board of Elections April 14, 2026 5:30 P.M. ATTENDANCE Members: Jamie Getty, Chair John Lyon, Secretary Derrick R. Miller, Member James (Jim) Battle Morgan, Jr., Member Beverly Setz, Member Staff: Eric Navagh, Interim Elections Deputy Director Mark Payne, Board Legal Counsel [attended virtually] Denise Brown, Elections Compliance Specialist Kristen Daley, Elections Education & Communication Coordinator Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Elections Administrative Technician Gina Herring, Elections Specialist Regina Stokes, Elections Specialist Joey Worsley, Elections Database & Systems Specialist Visitors: Lisa Wurtzbacher, Assistant County Manager Public Attendees: E. J. Hanley; John Marshall; Leslie Antos, League of Women Voters LCF; Wendy Hunt, NHCDP; Conor Doherty, WWAY3 Virtual Attendees: D. Abel; Mark Payne, Board Legal Counsel; Alherd Kazura; Bill 1. MEETING OPENING a. Call to Order Chair Getty called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The New Hanover County Board of Elections meeting was held in the Board of Elections office, 226 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC. All members were present. Board Minutes – 04/14/2026 Page | 2 b. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Getty invited all in attendance to rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. c. Approval of Agenda Secretary Lyon moved to approve the agenda as submitted, seconded by Member Setz. Motion carried unanimously. d. Approval of Minutes Secretary Lyon moved to approve the minutes of the 03/02/2026, 03/03/2026, 03/06/2026, 03/12/2026, 03/13/2026, and 03/23/2026 Board meetings as submitted, seconded by Member Miller. Motion carried unanimously. 2._PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Chair Getty called upon the public attendees for their comments or questions, limited to two minutes each with a total maximum time of twenty minutes. Seeing and hearing no public attendees wishing to comment, Chair Getty closed the Public Comment period. 3. DIRECTOR’S UPDATE a. Financial Update Interim Deputy Director Navagh presented the Year-to-Date Financial update reflecting expenditures through March 31, 2026. He drew the Board’s attention to these line items: • Casual part-time salaries line is under budget in this report. The next report will reflect that election officials’ paychecks for the March Primary went out in early April. • Contracted services line is over budget through the third quarter, reflecting costs of temporary staff for the municipal and primary elections. Expenditures will be lower through the remainder of this fiscal year. • Supplies lines exceed the budget allocation which will be addressed through reclassifying some items to more appropriate categories, such as printing. Mr. Navagh concluded his presentation noting that overall, the budget is expected to end this fiscal year within budget. In response to a question from Secretary Lyon, Mr. Navagh said additional overtime expense is not anticipated for the remainder of this fiscal year. Board Minutes – 04/14/2026 Page | 3 b. List Maintenance Interim Deputy Director Navagh reported that list maintenance from January 1 to April 1, 2026, resulted in removal of 2,028 voter registrations consistent with NC Gen. Stat. § 163- 82.14, and processed 3,976 new registrations, 3,242 registrations without changes, and 3,876 voter registration updates. The agenda packet includes additional information about the sources of registration, snapshots of administrative processes, and a breakdown of county voter registrations. c. Spring Outreach Event Update Elections Education & Outreach Coordinator Daley reported on plans for Spring outreach events: • April 28, 2026 – UNCW Campus Life Market Day Staff will host an information table to engage with UNCW students about their voting options, to distribute educational materials, and to recruit students interested in serving as election officials. Secretary Lyon asked about outreach to the campus Young Republicans and Young Democrats as potential election officials. Ms. Daley said it is BOE policy not to initiate outreach to any partisan group, but when such groups initiate contact, the staff will respond and initiate contact with counterpart groups. Member Setz asked if this event would be a voter registration drive. Ms. Daley said the purpose is to connect students to information and guidelines on how they might register to vote, whether locally or at their permanent residential location. • May 15, 2026 – Retirement Academy Staff will host an informational table and deliver a 45-minute presentation to retirees and pre-retirees covering voting options, voter photo ID requirements, election official recruitment opportunities, and key upcoming election dates and deadlines. 4. GENERAL DISCUSSION Chair Getty called on the Board for general discussion of any election-related items. Hearing none, Chair Getty continued with the agenda. 5. CLOSED SESSION Chair Getty moved to enter closed session to discuss personnel matters and receive legal Board Minutes – 04/14/2026 Page | 4 guidance pursuant to NC Gen. Stat. §143-318.11(3) and (6), seconded by Members Miller and Morgan. Motion carried unanimously. The Board entered closed session at 5:47 p.m. and returned to open session at 6:44 p.m. 5. ADJOURNMENT Chair Getty said no action will be taken regarding the closed session and moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member Morgan. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. The next Board meeting is scheduled to be held on May 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in the Board of Elections office, 226 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, NC. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: _______________________________ JAMIE GETTY CHAIR _______________________________ JOHN LYON SECRETARY Page | 11 ITEM # 2 Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: Public Comment Period Summary: This is an opportunity for members of the public to provide comments on elections-related matters. Each commenter will be limited to two minutes. There is a limit of 20 minutes total for the public comment period. Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary This page intentionally left blank. Page | 13 ITEM # 3 Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: Department Update Summary: a) List Maintenance Update Per data provided from the Statewide Elections Information Management System (SEIMS), the New Hanover County Board of Elections Completed the following: • Removed 891 registrations from the voter registration rolls from April 1, 2026, through May 1, 2026, consistent with NC Gen Stat. §163-82.14 • Processed 1,281 new registration forms, 987 duplicate registration forms, and 1,285 registration update forms from April 1, 2026, through May 1, 2026. Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary This page intentionally left blank. This page intentionally left blank Page | 21 ITEM # 4 Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: General Discussion Summary: This is an opportunity for discussion on other elections-related matters not included in the meeting agenda. Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary This page intentionally left blank. Page | 23 ITEM # 5 Special Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections May 12, 2026 Subject: Closed Session Chairman Statement Prior to Closed Session: I move that the Board enter into closed session, under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 143 318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6) to discuss personnel matters and receive legal guidance. Applicable Statutes and/or Rules: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(a)(3) and (a)(6) Summary: Closed session is required to discuss certain personnel matters, §§ 143-318.11(a)(3), and receive legal advice from the Board’s attorney, §§ 143-318.11(a)(6). Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary Returning to Open Session: I move that the Board return to open session, under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 143- 318.11(a)(3) and (a) (6), to conduct business remaining before the Board. This page intentionally left blank.