HCBOE Board Meeting Minutes - July 17, 2012 - Regular MeetingHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
MEETING MINUTES
July 17, 2012
5:00 p.m.
Present were Chairman Walter Massey, Secretary James Currin and Member Louise Taylor.
Also present was Ted Halstead, Elections Director.
Chairman Massey called the meeting to order at 5:OOpm.
Business:
Mr. Halstead presented the absentee ballots received to date for the Board's review. Mr. Currin
moved to approve the absentee ballots received. Mrs. Taylor seconded. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Mr. Halstead noted that better signage appeared to have been put in place at the Johnsonville
precinct when he visited its polling place during the second primary on July 17. He also noted
that volunteers at the Johnsonville precinct providing coffee to voters during the May 8 primary
were not present on July 17. However, Mr. Halstead still plans to advise them to observe the 50
foot limit from the polling place entrance provided by law for everyone other than voters and
election staff in advance of the November general election.
Mrs. Taylor advised that she had learned of a complaint from the fire chief at the NW Harnett
Fire Station, a polling place in that precinct. The complaint was that the grass outside the station
was being damaged by campaign workers, who had also erected tents in that area during the
second primary on July 17. After discussion, Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Currin and Chairman Massey
concluded that no further action was needed unless campaign workers crossed the 50 foot limit
from the polling place entrance, or the Board received a written complaint.
Mrs. Taylor also noted that at one precinct she had noticed a car parked in such a manner that
access to the curbside voting area was blocked. Mr. Halstead agreed that this could pose a
problem, and will ask poll workers to be on the lookout for this or any other issues that could
affect access for handicapped voters.
Also on the topic of curbside voting, Chairman Massey pointed out the importance of ensuring
that the signals notifying poll workers of a car with a voter needing assistance are operational.
Mr. Halstead agreed that they should all be checked, and workers at all polling places provided
with extra batteries for the signals.
Chairman Massey, Mr. Currin and Mrs. Taylor also discussed the possibility of splitting the
Central District precinct into its two former components at some future date, concluding that the
matter should be revisited following this year's Presidential election.
The next meeting of the Board will be on July 24, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Currin moved to adjourn. Mrs. Taylor seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
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Walter Massey, Chai an
)a!�sCurrin, Secretary' /J�
Louise Taylor, Member