Board of Elections Meeting | April 21, 2026

The Buncombe County Board of Elections held a meeting on April 21, 2026, primarily focused on budget discussions and operational updates ahead of upcoming elections. Key procurement-related topics included deliberations on budget reduction options amid a county-wide 3% budget cut mandate. The board reviewed and prioritized budget expansion items such as seasonal staff pay increases, election day poll worker pay adjustments, and leasing larger early voting sites to accommodate higher voter turnout. Staff highlighted challenges in finding suitable larger early voting locations and discussed potential cost-sharing with the county for leased spaces. The board also addressed required maintenance contracts for voting equipment, which are mandated by state contracts and not subject to reduction. Members expressed concerns about underfunding election services compared to peer counties, referencing a recent op-ed, and emphasized the need for adequate funding to ensure smooth election operations. The board planned to finalize budget decisions promptly to meet county deadlines, with ongoing coordination with the county budget office and county managers. Additionally, the meeting included procedural matters such as approval of minutes, updates on staff certifications, and discussions on board member access policies to secure election areas.