Aug 9

Aug 9 John Nix: Board of Elections power plays

The struggle by the Lenoir County Board of Elections to maintain reasonable voting accommodations is never-ending. The Lenoir County Board of Elections, the “Board”, consists of a Democrat Chairman, two Democrat members, and two Republican members. Courtney Patterson is the Chairman of the “Board” and has consistently pushed for a high number of early voting sites.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections requires at least one voting site for every 20,000 registered voters in each respective County. Lenoir County has a little over 37,000 registered voters. That number would require at least two early voting sites to accommodate voters. One stop voting begins 19 days before the general election and ends three days before for a total of 17 days of early voting opportunity.

This year Chairman Patterson insists upon having six sites available to voters. Each voting site costs approximately $10,000 to $12,000 to operate. With Lenoir County already facing a property tax increase, how can Chairman Patterson justify assessing the taxpayers three times the expense when not necessary or required? Additionally, there is currently a County hiring freeze.

There is also a spending freeze, by which even if in the departmental budget, permission must be acquired. By insisting on six one stop sites, how can Chairman Patterson justify eliminating two potential full-time jobs? The Lenoir County Board of Commissioners has informed the “Board” they can only afford to fund four one stop sites. But Chairman Patterson is on record as stating the Commissioners must fund whatever the “Board” requests. The County Commissioners are bound only as follows:

“163-37. Duty of county board of commissioners. The respective boards of county commissioners shall appropriate reasonable and adequate funds necessary for the legal functions of the county board of elections, including reasonable and just compensation of the director of elections. (1999-424, s. 3(a); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)”

As stated, the North Carolina State Board of Elections has already recommended one site per 20,000 registered voters. That is reasonable by their standards and the County Commissioners should adhere to reasonable standards in funding these one stop voting sites. The Chairman of the Board of Elections has a political agenda and does not care who knows it.

The County Commission is majority Democrat but is still accountable to all taxpayers, regardless of party affiliation. Funding more one stop sites than is recommended by the State would be fiscally irresponsible given the current conditions our County, State and Nation are under.

It is now our job to let the Commission know what you think is reasonable funding. Do Lenoir County taxpayers agree two taxpayer-funded sites is enough? The Democrat plan is three times the recommended amount with six sites. This unbudgeted plan will cost Lenoir County $30,000 to $36,000 more than required or necessary.

We all know not everyone pays property taxes, but everyone has ample opportunity to vote. Registered voters have 17 days of early voting to find rides, use public transportation, ride-sharing services, or request an absentee ballot to exercise their right to vote. There is no oppressive intent in limiting voting sites to state recommendations. Chairman Patterson’s actions exhibit callus, unreasonable, and intentional disregard for all residents of Lenoir County. The Republican board members requested three sites.

And then there is the “pandemic”.

Democrat States and Counties nationwide are pushing for voters to use mail-in ballots to vote. There is already a system in place for absentee ballot voting. However, absentee ballot voting is designed for a small percentage of resident voters that are unable to vote in person due to health problems or geographical challenges. It was not designed to accommodate, in a timely fashion, 30% or better of resident voters.

This mail-in ballot push by Democrats is designed to overwhelm the system, delay results, and create chaos and confusion, not to provide safety to the voting public. Each voting site will be using masks, rubber gloves, and other safeguards to protect the public and themselves. So, if the “Board” knows they will see a marked increase in Absentee Ballots, why does Chairman Patterson want three times the one stop voting sites?

Chairman Patterson needs to be held accountable by you, the taxpaying registered voters of Lenoir County. He is not allowed to make unilateral decisions, spend taxpayer dollars whimsically, and should be held to the standards set by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Chairman Patterson needs to be reminded that the money he is playing with is not Monopoly money. We don’t get to fold up the game after it’s over with zero consequences.

This is real taxpayer money and is not a game at all! Lenoir County is already a Tier One County with one of the highest tax rates in the State! People are out of work and businesses are either closed for good or struggling as the economy slowly recovers from the impact of this virus and Governor Cooper’s response to it, another topic of discussion for a different column.

Let the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners and the Lenoir County Board of Elections members know what you, the taxpayer, think about the majority plan to unnecessarily spend your money. Below is the contact information for each:

Lenoir County Board of Elections (as provided by the Board of Elections)

Courtney Patterson, Chairman cmpatterson01@aol.com

Ella Clarke, Secretary ellamooreclark@yahoo.com

Tommy Pharo, Member tpharo@suddenlink.net

Bob Patterson, Member pattersonrobert42@gmail.com

Lucinda Minges, Member lucindabminges@gmail.com

Lenoir County Commissioners (as found here)

Linda Rouse Sutton, Chairman lrousesutton@co.lenoir.nc.us

Roland Best rolandbest@embarqmail.com

Preston Harris prestonharris@embarqmail.com

Craig Hill wchill@co.lenoir.nc.us

June Cummings jcummings@co.lenoir.nc.us