Board of Elections Absentee Meeting | October 20, 2026

The Buncombe County Board of Elections held an absentee meeting on October 20, 2026, focused on absentee-ballot processing and early-voting operations. Staff reported 6,488 absentee requests and 2,123 returned ballots, record midterm early-voting turnout, and parking improvements at two voting sites. The board approved two pending absentee ballots, voted to disallow 11 ballots with non-curable deficiencies that had been reissued, and approved the reviewed batch of 499 civilian, five military, and 108 overseas ballots. Staff also reported scanner issues at several early-voting locations, discussed poll-worker and election-day judge assignments, and agreed to provide the board with updated chief-judge party-affiliation information.

The board discussed election-night procedures, including a proposed 2 p.m. start for processing early-voting results and moving to the warehouse once the process was underway. Members also addressed reports of conflict among election observers and greeters and emphasized respectful conduct and follow-up by staff. Lamar offered election advertising on county digital billboards at half price; the advertising was already displayed during early voting. No contract award, procurement vote, or specific expenditure was identified.