Buncombe County Primary Elections Early Voting Options Survey
Buncombe County Primary Elections Early Voting Options Survey
Update Oct. 24, 2023
After deliberation and hearing feedback from the public on the 2024 primary election Early Voting Plan, Buncombe County Board of Elections voted to approve the plan. A public input survey on the plan received more than 2,000 views with 1,900 responses and over 800 comments, with 93 percent of participants approving the plan with minor changes.
As a result of public responses, Deputy Elections Director Neggy Fox proposed to use the Shiloh Friendship Center as a site to take some of the overflow from South Buncombe Library. At the Sept. 12 Board meeting, Judy Williamson read a statement from the residents of the Shiloh community in which the residents expressed strong support for using the Friendship Center as an Early Voting site.
Click here for the approved Early Voting plan.
The following questions were the top questions asked by participants.
1. Why can’t weekday hours start before 8 a.m. or go past 7:30 p.m.?
The current weekday hours of operations (8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.) are statutory and our Board has no authority to change these hours. (NCGS §163-227.6)
2. Can we extend weekend hours?
The proposed weekend hours of 10 a.m.-3 p.m. were chosen based on previous election turnout data. These hours were determined to be the peak hours that most voters come to vote on the weekends. These hours will also allow poll workers to rotate days so that they can have a day off over the 17-day period that they are required to work.
3. Why no Sunday hours on Feb. 18, 2024?
Our poll workers need a day off. The first Sunday during Early Voting has historically been our lowest turnout day.
4. Why do we need Early Voting?
It’s the law. Early Voting is statutorily required to be offered during every election in North Carolina. The popularity of Early Voting has grown not just in Buncombe County but nationally. About half of voters in Buncombe County vote early for convenience.
5. Public transportation at voting sites?
Most of our Early Voting sites (i.e. libraries and community centers) are located on the public transit route for voters to take advantage of.
6. Will there not be an Early Voting location close to downtown?
Downtown locations tend to have lower turnout. The closest Early Voting site to the downtown area is the Wesley Grant Southside Community Center at 285 Livingston St., Asheville 28801. It’s just over two miles from downtown, is on the bus route, has been used over the last several years, and recently underwent a recreation phase expansion.
Feedback Needed: Take Buncombe County’s Primary Voting Survey
Do you want to have a voice in how Early Voting works for the primary elections? Take our six-question survey so your voice can be heard. The Buncombe County Board of Elections will take feedback into consideration when determining the number of locations and weekend hours for Early Voting. The survey closes on Friday, Sep. 8.
Early Voting Period:
Feb. 15- March 2
Proposed locations
- Black Mountain Library – 105 N. Dougherty St, Black Mountain 28711
- East Asheville Library – 3 Avon Rd, Asheville 28805
- Enka-Candler Library – 1404 Sand Hill Rd, Candler 28715
- Fairview Library – 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview 28730
- Leicester Community Center – 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester 28748
- North Asheville Location – TBD
- South Buncombe/ Skyland Library – 260 Overlook Rd, Asheville 28803
- 2nd South Asheville Location – TBD
- Weaverville Community Center – 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville 28787
- Wesley Grant Southside Center (in lieu of BOE) – 285 Livingston St, Asheville 28801
- West Asheville Library – 942 Haywood Rd, Asheville 28806
Proposed hours
Please note that voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and on the last Saturday (March 2) hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m as mandated by state law. The Board of Elections can set weekend hours and determine the number of early voting sites.
Proposed weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday, February 17
- Saturday, February 24
- Sunday, February 25
What’s next?
The Board of Elections will meet on Tuesday, Sep. 12 to discuss public input of the Early Voting plan for the Primary election and adopt it at the Oct. 17 meeting. After that, Buncombe County will publicize the finalized locations and hours on our website, through media partners, social media, and on the Board of Elections Engage page https://engage.buncombecounty.org/boardofelections.
Register to vote
Do you know if you’re registered for the March 5 Primary? Find out here. If not, you can register and vote at any Early Voting location. For additional information about registering to vote or updating your registration, visit the Election Services website.
New Voter Identification Rules
Click here to learn more about the approved voter ID for upcoming elections.
Voters Can Now Get Free Photo ID Cards from Buncombe County Board of Elections
Click on the image below to read the full article and learn how to get a free Voter ID card.
Watch the video below to learn more about the expansion of the ExpressVote system in Early Voting for Buncombe County.
Elections Update: Important Information You Need for Voting
Click on the image below to read about recent changes to voting rules.