The state auditor’s meddling in local early voting planning came to Pasquotank County today – the GOP elections board chair admitted “recommendations” from the auditor’s staff ahead of his decision to drop Sunday voting and cut the county’s popular site on Elizabeth City State University's campus.
"Hey friends, I'm Sailor Jones with Common Cause, North Carolina. As you can see, it's a beautiful day in Elizabeth City, but not such a beautiful day at today's Pasquotank County elections board meeting on the county's early voting options for 2026. The Republican chair of the elections board, who admitted during the meeting he received his words recommendations from the state auditor's office, led the charge to drop Sunday voting in the county, moved the county's only early voting site from its spacious and safe K.E. White Graduate Center on Elizabeth City State's campus to a county board of elections office, which is not only under construction with questionable pain and plumbing, but also has a clearly subpar parking situation that may or may not be ready for voters of all ages and abilities this fall. The members couldn't even agree on an early voting schedule with Republicans opting for fewer hours for working voters in 2026 at the single site they offered. While we'll be keeping the pressure on to add back weekend options and a better site for voters who deserve better, hits just keep on coming as Pasquotank's plans now head to the auditor's state board of elections, which has been unfriendly, to say the least, to Sundays and student voting options, including those used by our HBCUs. Now that voters have exposed the auditor's meddling here in Elizabeth City, it's on to the Rowan County Board of Elections meeting tomorrow, where public pressure has forced members there to reconsider cuts in the county. We'll see you tomorrow live from Salisbury. Meantime, learn more about these and other voting options in your county at ccnc.me slash elections hub."
💬 Discussion
The state auditor’s meddling in local early voting planning came to Pasquotank County today – the GOP elections board chair admitted “recommendations” from the auditor’s staff ahead of his decision to drop Sunday voting and cut the county’s popular site on Elizabeth City State University's campus.