Lenoir County is facing delays and additional costs as it works to comply with a recent North Carolina Supreme Court ruling that requires the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name from all ballots. The decision has triggered a statewide reprinting of ballots, and Lenoir County is no exception.

Kristie Smith, Director of the Lenoir County Board of Elections, confirmed that her office has already submitted its ballot order to the printer in response to the court's decision. "Our ballot order has been sent to the printer," she said. The ruling came after Kennedy suspended his independent presidential campaign in August, necessitating the reprinting of ballots to exclude his name.

One of the immediate consequences of this ruling is a delay in the mailing of absentee ballots. Federal law mandates that absentee ballots must be sent by September 21 for military and overseas voters. Smith remains hopeful the county can meet this deadline despite the delays. "This whole process has already caused a delay in mailing the ballots, but we are hopeful it will cause minimal delay for voters," Smith said.

The reprinting process has also imposed unexpected expenses on Lenoir County. "We will pay additional costs for reprinting ballots," Smith noted, adding that while the reprinting itself is a challenge, her staff is prepared to handle the logistics of distributing the new ballots as soon as they arrive. The reprinted ballots will replace those that had already been printed and stored securely to avoid any potential confusion. "Ballots are secured in our storage facility with other records," she explained.

Despite these challenges, Smith remains optimistic about the county's ability to manage the situation. "We will mail them as soon as we are instructed to do so," she said, emphasizing that her office is working diligently to meet all deadlines and ensure a smooth voting process for Lenoir County residents.

The statewide reprinting effort is expected to cost counties a collective $1 million, but the court's ruling made it clear that ensuring voter rights outweighs the financial burden. Smith and her team are committed to navigating the logistical challenges and ensuring that all eligible voters in Lenoir County have the opportunity to cast their ballots without disruption.

"Our priority remains to ensure every vote counts," Smith said.