Board Meeting Agenda 10-20-2020
MEETING AGENDA
Date: October 20, 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 D. 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 Elections-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 20, 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 20, 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 20, 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 20, 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 (revised October 19, 2020)
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.
Per reissued Numbered Memo 2020-19, there are three different types of deficiencies associated with
absentee ballot applications: 1) deficiencies that can be cured with a certification, 2) deficiencies that
require the ballot to be spoiled, and 3) deficiencies that require additional board review and action.
Deficiencies associated with the voter’s signature, a witness or assistant printed name or address, and a
witness or assistant signature on the wrong line can be cured by sending the voter a certification.
Deficiencies that require that the ballot be spoiled and reissued include a missing witness or assistant
signature, the submission of unsealed container-return envelopes and envelopes indicating the voter is
requesting a replacement ballot. Deficiencies that require further board review and action include cases
where the deficiency is first noticed at a board meeting, envelopes with missing ballots, and envelopes
with more than one ballot.
At the end of each meeting, all envelopes and ballots should be reconciled with the number of ballot
envelopes approved at the meeting equal in number to the number of ballots counted by the tabulator.
The county board should record the count on the tabulator 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