Board Meeting Agenda 10-13-2020
MEETING AGENDA
Date: October 13, 2020 Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Government Center Complex, Fin #500 Type: Special
Scheduled Attendees:
Thomas C. Pollard, Chair Rae Hunter-Havens, Elections Director
Evelyn A. Adger, Secretary Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Administrative Technician
Jonathan W. Washburn, Member Caroline Dawkins, Elections Program & Outreach
Derrick R. Miller, Member Coordinator
Russ C. Bryan, Member
Visitor(s): Sheryl Kelly, Assistant County Manager
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Meeting Opening
a. Call to Order
b. Pledge of Allegiance
c. Approval of Agenda
2. Public Comment and Questions
Public Comment (2-minute limit)
3. General Discussion
Other Election-Related Matters
4. New Business
Review of Absentee Ballot Applications
5. Adjournnment
*Agenda packets are sent via email in advance of meetings.
Special Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
October 13, 2020
Subject:
Approval of Agenda
Summary:
N/A
Board Action Required:
Staff recommends approval
Item # 1c
Special Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
October 13, 2020
Subject:
Public Comment
Summary:
This is an opportunity for members of the public to provide comment on elections-related matters. Each
commenter will be limited to two minutes.
Board Action Required:
Discuss as necessary
Item # 2 Item # 2
Special Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
October 13, 2020
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
Item # 3
Special Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
October 13, 2020
Subject:
Review of Absentee Ballot Applications
Applicable Statutes and/or Rules
N.C. Gen. Stat §§163-229(b) and 163-230.1(f), Session Law 2019-239, Session Law 2020-17, NCSBOE
Numbered Memos 2020-19, 2020-25, and 2020-28
Summary:
At each absentee board meeting, county boards will need to either approve or deny the applications. All
returned absentee ballot applications for the 2020 General Election must include the following:
1. The voter’s certification of eligibility to vote the enclosed ballot.
2. The certification of one witness, to include their residence address.
3. The certification, to include residence address, of any individual that assisted a voter in
accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. §163-226.3.
The NC State Board of Elections has general oversight over elections in North Carolina and is responsible
for providing guidance to county board members (NC Gen. Stat. 163-22). As outlined in Numbered
Memo 2020-28 issued by the NC State Board of Elections on October 4, 2020, the previously issued
Numbered Memos listed below are on hold until further notice while related matters are pending in a
number of courts:
2020-19 - Absentee Container-Return Envelope Deficiencies
2020-22 – Return Deadline for Mailed Civilian Absentee Ballots in 2020 (not issued yet)
2020-23 – In-Person Return of Absentee Ballots (not issued yet)
Per Numbered Memo 2020-28, county boards that receive an executed absentee container-return
envelope with a deficiency are prohibited from taking action as to that envelope. The return of the
deficient absentee envelopes shall not be entered into the State Elections Information Management
System (SEIMS). The deficient envelopes must be kept in a secure location and not reviewed by the
county board until further notice from the State Board. For previously reissued ballots, county boards
may approve the second envelope if it is returned by the voter without any deficiencies.
At the end of each absentee review meeting, all envelopes and ballots approved by the county board
should be reconciled with the number of ballots scanned by the tabulator. County boards should record
the tabulator count at the start and end of each absentee meeting using a Reconciliation Log Sheet.
Document/s Included:
Absentee Poll Book; Reconciliation Log Sheet (Provided at meeting)
Board Action Required:
Discuss as necessary and action required
Item # 2 Item # 4