Greene board of elections sworn in
By Kristy Bock / Neuse News
SNOW HILL — The Greene County Board of Elections met on Wednesday for the swearing-in of the 2019-21 board. The newly-elected chairman, Louis Joyner, presided over the meeting.
One of the first orders of business was to select a secretary; the board voted unanimously in support of Michele Dail. The new board now consists of Joyner, Ben Lanier, Patrick Greene, Dail and Bill Connor.
New Greene County Board of Elections Chairman Louis Joyner. Photo by Kristy Bock / Neuse News
This board faces a first year with the announcement of a special election ordered by Gov. Roy Cooper to fill the seat in North Carolina’s Third Congressional District, which has been open since the passing of U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. in early February. The state board of elections is meeting next week to attempt to get the special election on the same day as the election in the 9th district.
As it stands today, the special election primary will be held April 30. If a second primary is needed, or a runoff election happens, it will be July 9. Trey Cash, the Director of Elections, said four elections in one county in one year has not happened in a number of years in Greene County, if at all.
Another issue this new board faces is the implementation of a new voter ID process. Though the law was recently struck down in court, the election board needs to be prepared for either outcome in the courts.
There will be two voter ID public seminars held by a member of the state board of elections. The first date is May 21 at 7 p.m., and the second will be held Aug. 6 at 7. After the public seminars are completed, there will be community events held by local officials to ensure the public is aware of any changes to their voting processes.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, subpoenaed more than 30,000 documents from Greene County, as well as from 38 other counties and from the State Board of Elections. The initial request has been reduced to 10 names, which are not yet identified. The question was raised during the meeting, if the 10 named individuals will be notified, but at this time no direction has been given by the state.
