Board Meeting Agenda Packet 03-15-2022
MEETING AGENDA
Date: March 15, 2022 Time: 5:15 PM
Location: Bd of Elections Office, Long Leaf Room Type: Regular
Scheduled Attendees:
Oliver Carter III, Chair Rae Hunter-Havens, Elections Director
Derrick R. Miller, Secretary Caroline Dawkins, Elections Deputy Director
Lyana G. Hunter, Member Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Administrative Elections
Bruce Kemp, Member Technician
Russ C. Bryan, Member Jenna Dahlgren, Elections Logistics Specialist
Visitor(s): Sheryl Kelly, Assistant County Manager
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Meeting Opening
a. Call to Order
b. Preliminary Announcement
i. Silence Phones
ii. Recording & Streaming
iii. Other
c. Pledge of Allegiance
d. Approval of Agenda
2. Public Comment and Question Period
• 2-minute limit
• 20-minute limit total
3. Director’s Report
a. Financial Update
b. List Maintenance
4. Statutorily-Required Business
a. Resolution to Adopt a Time for Counting Absentee Ballots
b. 2022 Primary Elections Notice
c. 2021-2023 Appointment of Chief Judges and Judges
5. General Discussion
• Other Elections-Related Matters
6. Adjournment
*Agenda packets are sent via email in advance of meetings.
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
Subject:
Approval of Agenda
Summary:
N/A
Board Action Required:
Staff recommends approval
Item # 1d
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
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 with a twenty-minute limit total for all public comments.
Board Action Required:
Discuss as necessary
Item # 2 Item # 2
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
Subject:
Director’s Report
Summary:
a.Financial Update
The attached reports provide the Board with a budget update, including the following:
•Salaries and Benefits expended through FY21-22 8th Period (February)
•Operating Expenses expended through FY21-22 8th Period (February)
•Grand Total expended through FY21-22 8th Period (February)
b.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 774 voters from the voter registration rolls in February of 2022
consistent with NC Gen. Stat. §163-82.14.
•Processed 931 new registration forms, 464 duplicate registration forms, and 854
registration update forms in February of 2022.
Document/s Included:
Financial Year-To-Date Budget Report 8th Period (February); NVRA Report February 2022;
NVRA Visualizations Report; NVRA Report Definitions
Board Action Required:
Discuss as necessary
Item # 2 Item # 3
March 10, 2022 BOARD OF ELECTIONS BUDGET REPORT
SALARIES & BENEFITS FY20-21
ACTUALS
FY20-21
8TH PERIOD
ACTUALS
FY21-22
8TH PERIOD
ACTUALS
FY21-22
TRANSFERS
/ADJUSTMENTS
FY21-22
ENC/REQ
FY21-22
REVISED BUDGET
FY21-22
PERCENT USED
SALARIES 302,294.78 199,974.26 207,632.05 0.00 0.00 438,217.00 47.4%
CASUAL PART TIME SALARIES 423,477.82 430,662.71 107,454.34 0.00 3,750.00 558,889.00 19.9%
OVERTIME PAY (OTP)13,505.10 13,489.56 2,792.34 0.00 0.00 7,974.00 35.0%
SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES (FICA)29,917.00 21,620.72 16,400.64 0.00 0.00 76,890.00 21.3%
RETIREMENT-LOCAL GOVT EMPL 32,346.56 21,769.89 23,988.45 0.00 0.00 49,218.00 48.7%
GENERAL 401-K 0.00 0.00 5,044.53 0.00 0.00 25,123.00 20.1%
MEDICAL INSURANCE EXPENSE 44,352.48 27,598.38 37,389.55 0.00 0.00 80,648.00 46.4%
LONG TERM DISABILITY INSUR 595.89 391.55 331.14 0.00 0.00 754.00 43.9%
SALARIES & BENEFITS TOTAL 846,489.63 715,507.07 401,033.04 0.00 3,750.00 1,237,713.00 32.7%
OPERATING EXPENSES FY20-21
ACTUALS
FY20-21
8TH PERIOD
ACTUALS
FY21-22
8TH PERIOD
ACTUALS
FY21-22
TRANSFERS
/ADJUSTMENTS
FY21-22
ENC/REQ
FY21-22
REVISED BUDGET
FY21-22
PERCENT USED
CONTR SERVS 440,126.65 383,903.13 116,199.77 14,128.00 179,633.49 283,237.00 104.4%
RENT 4,125.00 4,125.00 625.00 0.00 0.00 2,375.00 26.3%
ADVERTISING COST 3,038.78 3,038.78 2,536.30 0.00 0.00 4,000.00 63.4%
CELLULAR EXPENSE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 456.00 0.0%
POSTAGE EXPENSE 92,317.90 83,821.57 23,388.75 -1,814.00 0.00 56,936.00 41.1%
M&R-EQUIPMENT 35,405.77 18,285.00 50,855.00 0.00 0.00 50,855.00 100.0%
PRINTING 95,308.17 89,988.17 26,028.49 -5,000.00 2,160.51 121,300.00 23.2%
PRINTER-COPIER COSTS &SUPP 10,164.75 9,748.29 2,326.76 -2,500.00 0.00 7,500.00 31.0%
SUPPLIES 291,535.75 148,005.91 12,717.56 -1,814.00 13,665.50 57,740.00 45.7%
SUPPLIES-COMPUTER&OTHER 1,721.16 1,721.16 1,979.50 0.00 0.00 5,928.00 33.4%
DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 470.00 0.0%
EMPLOYEE REIMBURSEMENTS 152.2 152.20 412.3 0.00 0.00 500.00 82.5%
TRAINING & TRAVEL 201.98 201.98 1,465.99 -3,000.00 0.00 5,500.00 26.7%
INSURANCE&BONDS 4,214.62 4,214.62 43,030.58 16,179.00 0.00 43,031.00 100.0%
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 978,312.73 747,205.81 281,566.00 16,179.00 195,459.50 639,828.00 74.6%
GRAND TOTAL 1,824,802.36 1,462,712.88 682,599.04 16,179.00 199,209.50 1,877,541.00 47.0%
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
NVRA REPORT
Reporting Period:-2/1/2022 2/28/2022
Totals
Active 149,763
Inactive 25,442
Total Registration 175,205
REPORTING PERIOD
Registrations Approved 703
Total Registrations Removed 774
Inactive Registrations Removed 102
New Registrations
00 - No Application Source 2
01 - Public Assistance 23
02 - Disability 3
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 828
06 - Mail-in 14
07 - In-person 10
08 - Library & High School 1
09 - Spanish Language Application 1
10 - Online Registration 15
17 - Registration Drives 32
21 - Medicaid Renewal 2
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 0
931
Duplicates
00 - No Application Source 0
01 - Public Assistance 8
02 - Disability 1
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 167
06 - Mail-in 27
07 - In-person 4
08 - Library & High School 0
09 - Spanish Language Application 0
10 - Online Registration 7
17 - Registration Drives 1
21 - Medicaid Renewal 2
95 - Voter Return of NCOA 217
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 2
98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 4
vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 1 of 5Mar 10, 2022 3:58 pm
NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
99 - Voter Change On Verification 24
464
vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 2 of 5Mar 10, 2022 3:58 pm
NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Changes of Information
00 - No Application Source 9
01 - Public Assistance 22
02 - Disability 0
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 400
06 - Mail-in 63
07 - In-person 14
08 - Library & High School 0
09 - Spanish Language Application 0
10 - Online Registration 21
17 - Registration Drives 10
21 - Medicaid Renewal 1
95 - Voter Return of NCOA 290
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 0
98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 3
99 - Voter Change On Verification 21
854
Verifications
# of 1st & 2nd verification mailings sent 2,033
# of 1st NCOA mailings sent 0
# of 1st verification returned undeliverable 3,002
# of verification returned by voter 43
Confirmations
# of confirmations returned by voter 7
# of confirmations sent 2,955
# of confirmations returned undeliverable 3
# of confirmations not returned at all 12
COUNTY STATISTICAL
Constitution 0
Democratic 51,192
Green 0
Libertarian 1,490
Republican 53,552
Unaffiliated 68,971
American Indian 382
Asian 1,328
Black 19,548
Multi-Racial 963
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 11
White 135,003
Other 3,447
Undesignated 14,523
Hispanic 3,531
Not Hispanic 118,492
Undesignated 53,182
vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 3 of 5Mar 10, 2022 3:58 pm
NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Female 86,040
Male 73,305
Undesignated 15,860
Unprocessed Registrations - Incomplete Queue
00 - No Application Source 14
01 - Public Assistance 10
02 - Disability 1
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 164
06 - Mail-in 43
07 - In-person 0
08 - Library & High School 0
09 - Spanish Language Application 1
10 - Online Registration 0
17 - Registration Drives 3
21 - Medicaid Renewal 0
95 - Voter Return of NCOA 109
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 1
98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 5
99 - Voter Change On Verification 0
Unprocessed Registrations - Archive Queue
00 - No Application Source 0
01 - Public Assistance 0
02 - Disability 0
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 0
06 - Mail-in 19
07 - In-person 0
08 - Library & High School 0
09 - Spanish Language Application 0
10 - Online Registration 0
17 - Registration Drives 0
21 - Medicaid Renewal 0
95 - Voter Return of NCOA 8
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 0
98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 0
99 - Voter Change On Verification 0
Unprocessed Registrations - Review Queue
00 - No Application Source 0
01 - Public Assistance 0
02 - Disability 0
03 - Other (ESC) 0
04 - Armed Forces 0
05 - DMV 56
06 - Mail-in 0
07 - In-person 0
vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 4 of 5Mar 10, 2022 3:58 pm
NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
08 - Library & High School 0
09 - Spanish Language Application 0
10 - Online Registration 3
17 - Registration Drives 0
21 - Medicaid Renewal 0
96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0
97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 0
vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 5 of 5Mar 10, 2022 3:58 pm
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000
APPROVED REG
REMOVED REG
NVRA Monthly Statistics: Total Removed and Approved Registrations
Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20
Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21
July-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Nov-21 Dec-21 Jan-22 Feb-22
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000
NEW DMV REG
NEW REG ALL OTHERS
DMV DUPLICATES
ALL OTHER DUPLICATES
DMV INFO CHANGE
ALL OTHER INFO CHANGE
NVRA Monthly Statistics: Voter Registrations
Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21
Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 July-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Nov-21 Dec-21 Jan-22 Feb-22
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000 160000
1ST & 2ND VERIFICATIONS MAILED
1ST NCOA MAILED
UNDELIVERABLE 1ST VERFICIATION
RETURNED VERIFICATIONS
MAILED CONFIRMATIONS
RETURNED CONFIRMATIONS
UNDELIVERABLE CONFIRMATIONS
NVRA Monthly Statistics: Voter Card Mailings
Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20
Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21
July-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Oct-21 Nov-21 Dec-21 Jan-22 Feb-22
NVRA
The SBE has an automated process, so there is no need to submit the report on a monthly
basis, it is available for counties that would like to run the report for informational use.
NVRA Report definitions:
Prior to reviewing the NVRA report the following items need to be considered
Statistics are based on a time period
Temporary voters are ignored in these statistics.
These are interpretations of the SEIMS NVRA reports, not anything generated
outside the SEIMS application.
See NVRA change explanation in the supplemental section.
Description Definition
Registrations
Approved
Number of verified voters during the time period. This is based
off the following verification description: ‘NEW VOTER:
VERIFIED’
Total Registrations
Removed
Number of voters that had their status changed to REMOVED
during the time period
Inactive
Registrations
Removed
Number of voters that had their status changed from INACTIVE
to REMOVED during the time period
Total Registrations
Removed
Number of voters that had their status changed to REMOVED
during the time period
New
Number of NVRA flagged new voter records by source code
during the time period. Sources ‘15’, ‘17’, ‘19’ are combined
into ‘05’, ‘07’, ‘09’ respectively. Sources ‘98’ and ‘99’ are
ignored because these are change source codes
Change
Number of NVRA flagged change voter records by source code
during the time period. Sources ‘15’, ‘17’, ‘19’ are combined
into ‘05’, ‘07’, ‘09’ respectively
Duplicate
Number of NVRA flagged duplicate voter records by source
code during the time period. Sources ‘15’, ‘17’, ‘19’ are
combined into ‘05’, ‘07’, ‘09’ respectively
Verification:# of 1st
& 2nd verification
mailings sent
This is based off the following verification descriptions: ‘NEW
VOTER: 1ST VERIFICATION PENDING’, ‘NEW VOTER: 2ND
VERIFICATION PENDING’, ‘VOTER CHG: 1ST VERIFICATION
PENDING’, ‘VOTER CHG: 1ST VERIFICATION PENDING’, ‘LIST
MAINT: 1ST VERIFICATION PENDING’
Verification:# of 1st
verification returned
undeliverable
Number of 1st verification mailings returned undeliverable to
the county during the time period. This is based off the
following verification descriptions: ‘NEW VOTER: ADDR
CONFIRMATION TO FWD ADDR (PRIOR TO MAILING)’, ‘NEW
VOTER: 2ND VERIFICATION (PRIOR TO MAILING)’, ‘VOTER
CHG: ADDR CONFIRMATION TO FWD ADDR (PRIOR TO
MAILING)’, ‘VOTER CHG: ADDR CONFIRMATION TO OLD ADDR
(PRIOR TO MAILING)
Verification:# of
verification returned
by voter
Number of verifications returned to the county by the voter
during the time period. This is based off of source code ‘99’
changes
Confirmation:# of
confirmations
returned by voter
Number of verifications returned to the county by the voter
during the time period. This is based off of source code ‘98’
changes
Confirmation:# of
confirmations sent
Number of verifications returned to the county by the voter
during the time period. This is based off of source code ‘98’
changes
Confirmation:# of
confirmations
returned
undeliverable
Number of confirmation mailings returned undeliverable to
the county during the time period. This is based off the reason
changes to ‘CONFIRMATION RETURNED UNDELIVERABLE’
Confirmation:# of
confirmations not
returned at all
Number of confirmation mailings not returned to the county at
all during the time period. This is based off the reason changes
to ‘CONFIRMATION NOT RETURNED’
Supplemental Explanation – NVRA Change/Duplicate Description
For 1/7/2012 forward:
NOTE: An NVRA Voter Change is marked if one of the following fields is changed (with
a non-administrative change).
Name
Mailing Address
Birth Date
Party
Residential Address
NOTE: An NVRA Duplicate is marked if a voter change occurs but was not one of the
fields indicated above to represent an NVRA change.
Prior to 1/7/2012:
NOTE: An NVRA Voter Change is marked if any of the fields below are updated for a
voter.
Drivers license
Gender
Confidential Flag
Race
Party
Precinct
Mailing Address
Status
Municipality
Phone number
Name
Ward
Birth date
Residential Address
SSN
NOTE: An NVRA Duplicate is flagged if none of the above occur, but one of the
following fields are changed:
Reason
Registration date
Source
Application date
Comments
Language
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
Subject:
Resolution to Adopt a Time for Counting Absentee Ballots
Applicable Statutes and/or Rules:
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-234(2), 163- 234(11), and 163-182.2(a)(4), and Session Law 2020-69
Section 5.6
Summary:
The New Hanover County Board of Elections must adopt a resolution for the counting of
absentee ballots for the 2022 Primary Election if the counting of absentee ballots will begin
prior to 5:00 PM on Election Day. The Board may begin counting all absentee ballots
approved by the Board between the hours of 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Election Day upon the
adoption of a resolution at least two weeks prior to the election in which the hour and place
of the counting absentee ballots shall be stated. In addition, the Board may pass a resolution
to provide for an additional meeting following Election Day and prior to canvass to count the
supplemental absentee and provisional ballots approved by the Board. Attached is a
resolution to adopt a time for counting absentee ballots, at 2:00 PM on May 17 and May 26,
2022. This resolution must be run in a paper having general circulation in the county once
weekly during the two-week period prior to the election.
Document/s Included:
Resolution to Adopt a Time for Counting Absentee Ballots
Board Action Required:
Staff recommends approval
Item # 2 Item # 4a
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE TIME FOR COUNTING OF
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
At a meeting duly called and held on the 15th day of March 2022, the New Hanover County
Board of Elections unanimously adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS the county board of elections is authorized upon adoption of a resolution to begin
counting of absentee ballots between the hours of 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Election Day;
WHEREAS such resolution also may provide for an additional meeting following the day of the
election and prior to the day of canvass to count absentee ballots received pursuant to N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 163-231(b)(1) or (2);
WHEREAS the time and dates designated for these meetings will be at 2:00 pm, on May 17 and
May 26, for the purpose of counting absentee ballots;
WHEREAS the location of these meetings shall be at the New Hanover County Board of
Elections Office, 1241A Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405;
WHEREAS the board shall not announce the results of the count before 7:30 pm on Election
Day;
WHEREAS these meetings are open to all who may want to attend; and,
WHEREAS the adoption of this resolution is in compliance with North Carolina General
Statutes §§ 163-234(2) and 163-234(11), and Session Law 2020-69 Section 5.6, and will be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county within the statutory time frame.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the New Hanover County Board of Elections
hereby unanimously approves the Counting of Absentee Ballots for the 2022 Primary Election to
begin at 2:00 pm on May 17 and May 26.
Oliver Carter III, Chair
StarNews Publication – May 3rd & May 10th
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
Subject:
2022 Primary Election Notice
Applicable Statutes and/or Rules
N.C. Gen. Stat § 163-33(8)
Summary:
County Boards of Election across North Carolina are required to place a legal notice in the paper that
informs voters of the upcoming election. This notice must be run in a newspaper having general
circulation in the county once a week during the 20-day period preceding the voter registration deadline
and posted on the courthouse door. In addition to the information on the upcoming election, the notice
includes information on the:
1. 2022 Primary Election Absentee One-Stop Voting Period
2. Times for the review of absentee ballot applications (required and additional)
3. Times for the counting of absentee ballots
This notice does not satisfy the legal notice requirement for changing the time of counting absentee
ballots pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-234(2) and 163-234(11), which is required to run once weekly
during the two-week period prior to the election.
Document/s Included:
2022 Primary Election Notice
Board Action Required:
Staff recommends approval
Item # 2 Item # 4b
PUBLIC NOTICE
The 2022 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 in New Hanover County for the following federal, state, and
local offices: US Senate, US House of Representatives District 7, NC Supreme Court Associate Justice, NC Court of Appeals
Judge, New Hanover County Board of Commissioners-2 seats, New Hanover County Board of Education- 4 seats, and New
Hanover County Sheriff.
Voters will not be required to show photo ID for elections held in 2020. Federal and state courts have temporarily blocked
North Carolina’s voter photo ID requirement from taking effect until further order of the courts.
All Polling Places in the county will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on the day of the election, Tuesday, May 17.
Absentee One-Stop Voting will be held at the NHC Northeast Regional Library (1241 Military Cutoff Rd), NHC Senior
Resource Center (2222 S College Road), Cape Fear Community College Health Sciences Building (415 North 2nd Street),
Carolina Beach Town Hall (1121 N. Lake Park Blvd), and McKeithan Center at CFCC-N (4500 Blue Clay Rd). Absentee
One-Stop Voting will be open from Thursday, April 28th until 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 14th. Specific dates and times can
be found on the Board of Elections website at www.nhcvote.com or by calling our office at (910) 798-7330. Canvass will be
held in the New Hanover County Board of Elections office at 11:00 am on Friday, May 27th.
Absentee voting by mail is available. Requests for an absentee ballot must be made on an NC Absentee Ballot Request Form
(available on the State Board of Elections website and at the county board of elections office) and must be received in the New
Hanover County Board of Elections office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10th. Completed request forms may only be returned
in-person to the New Hanover County Board of Elections office by the voter, the voter’s near relative or verifiable legal
guardian, or by a Multipartisan Assistance Team, or delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or designated delivery service (DHL,
FedEx, or UPS). Absentee voting requires the voter to complete an application on the return envelope that must be witnessed
by two qualified persons or a notary public. Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the New Hanover County Board of
Elections by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day (ballots received by mail after this time will be considered timely if they are received
by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20th, and postmarked on or before Election Day). Voters may receive assistance voting a mail-in
absentee ballot from a near relative or verifiable legal guardian, or by a qualified person of their choice if a near relative or
legal guardian is not available. If the voter resides in a facility such as a nursing home, and the voter’s near relative or legal
guardian is not available, the voter or the facility can arrange to have the county board of elections schedule a visit by a
Multipartisan Assistance Team to provide assistance and serve as a witness. The Elections Board will meet at 5:00 pm on April
12, 19, 26, and on May 3, 10, and 16, to take action on applications for absentee ballots. The Board will also meet at 2:00 pm
on May 17 & May 26 for the purpose of counting absentee ballots.
All persons who are registered to vote with the New Hanover County Board of Elections may vote in this election. Persons who are
not already registered to vote in the county must register by Friday, April 22nd to be eligible to vote in this election. Voters who are not
registered in the county by that deadline may register and vote during one-stop early voting only and will be required to provide
documentation of their identity and residence. Voters who fail to timely make a change to their name or address in the county must
update the information when presenting to vote and may be required to vote a provisional ballot.
Voters voting in person are entitled to assistance by an election official, or, if assistance is needed due to disability or
illiteracy, by a qualified person of their choice. Voting sites are accessible to all voters. Curbside voting is available for voters
who are not able to enter voting sites.
For more information contact NHC Board of Elections, 1241A Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405 Monday –
Friday, 8am - 5pm, (910) 798-7330 – www.nhcvote.com.
Oliver Carter III, Chair
StarNews Publication – March 31st, April 7th & 14th
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
Subject:
2021-2023 Appointment of Chief Judge and Judge
Applicable Statutes and/or Rules
N.C. Gen. Stat §§ 163-31 and 163-41
Summary:
County boards of elections are required to appoint one chief judge and two judges to each precinct in
the county wherever possible. The attached document reviews recommendations made by the
Democratic and Republican parties for any known vacancies before the March 1st administrative
deadline to submit any suggested chief judge or judge appointees for specific precincts. Six of the
precincts noted in this document include vacancies as a result of resignation. Per NC Gen. Stat. § 163-
41(d), the Chair has the authority to take action on vacancies that occur at any time other than the day
of the primary or election and are the result of a resignation.
Per statute, the most important qualification of a chief judge or judge is that they are residents of the
precinct in which they are appointed to serve. Wherever possible, all judges should not be members of
the same political party. There is not a statutory requirement that a certain number of judges must be
Democrats or Republicans. Unaffiliated voters can be appointed as a chief judge or judge. The
appointment of Unaffiliated and Democratic judge or Unaffiliated and Republican judges meets the
bipartisan criteria since Unaffiliated judges are not of the same political party as either Democrat or
Republican judges. Per the NC State Board of Elections, examining the voting history of prospective
judges is not required, nor is it appropriate.
From an administrative perspective, it is imperative that the county board appoint as many qualified
resident chief judges and judges as statutorily permitted to ensure that our office has sufficient time to
1) onboard, assign, and train election officials to perform all required administrative and technical tasks
on Election Day and 2) to fill any last-minute vacancies of appointed chief judges or judges with transfer
chief judges or judges to ensure effective management of the election-related processes. It is critical
that, whenever possible, the use of transfer judges be limited to ensure that we have sufficient capacity
to fill last minute vacancies in those appointed to serve in each precinct. Through the timely
establishment of these appointments, teams can be built in a timely manner using other election
officials to ensure that all skillsets and knowledge-bases are present at each polling place.
Per the NC State Board of Elections, because the current board did not unanimously appoint as required
by N.C. Gen. Stat § 163-41(c) in all precincts, the precinct chief judges and judges appointed in 2019 hold
over until a new judge is properly appointed by the board for that position. This is because G.S. 163-
41(a) states, “Their terms of office shall continue for two years from the specified date of appointment
and until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that if a nonresident of the precinct is
appointed as chief judge or judge for a precinct, that person's term of office shall end if the board of
elections appoints a qualified resident of the precinct of the same party to replace the nonresident chief
judge or judge.” The chair has this authority to approve the appointment of judges or chief judges
Item # 4c
without needing unanimous approval of the board when there is a vacancy in an appointed position,
which does not occur unless the current chief judge or judge is removed from office, dies, or resigns –
those are the circumstances under which a vacancy would be created under G.S. 163-41(d).
In addition, the State Board maintains that, if the county board has two transfer judges appointed to a
precinct because of the appointment of new nonresident Judge to a precinct for 2021/2023 term and a
“holdover” nonresident judge from the 2019/2021 election cycle, then the appointment of the new
transfer judge is “void” since we already had a judge from outside the precinct and the judge was not
replaced by qualified voter in the precinct. For the “voided” appointments, the Chairman has the
authority to appoint another in their place under NC General Statute § 163-41(d).
Document/s Included:
2021-2023 Chief Judge and Judge Vacancies and Party Recommendations
Board Action Required:
Discuss as necessary
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
CF02 J-D
Democratic Party D Valerie Smith CF05 2 N
TRANSFER- No other transfers in precinct. 2021 Appointee resigned due to location and
commute (2021 appointee was a transfer).
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
H04 CJ
Democratic Party D John "Mark" DeLoach H03 0 N
TRANSFER- No other transfers in precinct. 2021 Appointee resigned as she accepted a
position in the BOE office (2021 appointee was a transfer). Near Relative of Candidate in
2022 Elections.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
H05 J-D
Democratic Party D Peter Bailey H05 0 Y
Recommended individual is Home Precinct. 2021 Appointee resigned as she has relocated
to Wake County.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
H10 CJ
Democratic Party D Faye Jacobs H10 0 Y
Recommended individual is Home Precinct. 2019 Appointee Resigned as she has relocated
out of state. No action was taken by Board of Elections to appoint in 2021.
Republican Party R Lori Apple W31 0 N
TRANSFER- No other transfers in precinct. 2019 Appointee Resigned as she has relocated
out of state. No action was taken by Board of Elections to appoint in 2021.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
M04 CJ
CURRENT APPOINTEE NHCBOE Patricia Dagnon M04 14 Y Current appointee (U) is home precinct, cannot be replaced in this manner
Democratic Party D Kathleen Strongylos W12 1 N TRANSFER- No other transfers in precinct
Chief Judge and Judge Vacancies
2022 Vacancies and Party Recommendations
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
W03 J-D
Democratic Party D Dana Hamerski W03 1 Y
Recommended individual is Home Precinct- 2021 Appointee Resigned at BOE's request
because their appointment exceeded number of transfers allowed.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
W08 J-D
Democratic Party D Dorothy Hodder W08 0 Y
Recommended individual is Home Precinct- 2021 Appointee Resigned at BOE's request
because their appointment exceeded number of transfers allowed.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
W13 J-R
Republican Party R Thomas C. Newton H02 0 N
TRANSFER- Appointed CJ from 2019-2021 does not wish to resign (and is a Transfer). The
appointment of an additional transfer would result in excess of Transfers.
Appointed
Precinct
Position
Vacancy Recommended By: Party
Affiliation Name Home
Precinct
Years of Service in
NHC since 2014
Resident of
Precinct (Y/N)Notes
W24 J-R
Republican Party R Thomas C. Newton H02 0 N
TRANSFER- Appointed CJ from 2021 is Transfer from W29.The appointment of an
additional transfer would result in excess of Transfers.
Regular Meeting
New Hanover County Board of Elections
March 15, 2022
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 # 5