The Sampson County Board of Elections passed a resolution Tuesday morning concerning inclement weather, received an update on the number of absentee ballots mailed out as of that day and discussed intentions to attend precinct worker training for the upcoming election on Nov. 3.
A resolution was unanimously approved during the meeting to allow poll delays or closures if necessary due to inclement weather. The resolution was requested by the State Board of Elections.
“We do want to keep in mind the safety of our workers and voters,” Board of Elections Director Niya Rayner told the board.
Coley Michael Warren made the motion, which was seconded by fellow board member Danny Jackson.
“We hope to not have to do this,” Rayner emphasized after the resolution passed.
Absentee ballots
Rayner told the board that almost 100 absentee ballots had been sent out as of Tuesday.
“We began mailing out absentees on Sept. 4. … A total of 99 absentees have been sent out already, and with that in mind, we do have some back,” she stressed.
“It’s been, for this election, a good bit,” Rayner noted of how many absentee ballots had been requested.
The director said ballots mailed in will be reviewed by the elections board at the absentee meeting to ensure that the ballots include photo identification or an exception form, that the ballots were completed correctly and that the mail-in voters either had two witnesses or a notary present.
The first absentee meeting for the Board of Elections will be held Sept. 29.
Rayner then reminded the board about the training sessions for precinct workers who work the polls.She explained that precinct workers are volunteers who “have to be registered voters in Sampson County.”
Rayner noted that on Election Day, the county has 23 precincts that will have to be staffed by those volunteers.
“I don’t know how many of you were able to make it to the last training sessions that we had for our poll members. … I stayed for the whole day, and if you can … please attend at least one of them,” board Chairman Dwight Williams recommended.
“The folks that do this work appreciate our presence there,” he added.
The training will take place Oct. 1, with a backup training available Oct. 29.
Board member Hannah White asked, “But we can’t all be there at the same time, right?”
“Actually, we can,” Williams clarified.
“Just no discussion of business,” Rayner specified, noting the rule that any quorum of the board constitutes a meeting.