Buncombe elections staff isolate foul‑smelling absentee ballot; board opens it outside and sends sample for analysis

A single absentee ballot and return envelope that gave off a strong, unidentified odor prompted the Buncombe County Board of Elections on Nov. 1 to take safety precautions and inspect the item outdoors.

During review staff reported an envelope that smelled foul and appeared stained. Chair said the board would have a bipartisan pair of board members examine and open the envelope outside the meeting room 'so that if there's something, like, really foul, we can still work in this room for the rest of the evening.'

Staff and board members described the response as cautious and procedural: the two members who opened the envelope used gloves, the duplicating team prepared to make a secure duplicate of the ballot if required, and staff said they would send the envelope/contents for chemical analysis. One board member noted that duplicators and the two members conducting the inspection would receive hazard pay for handling the item.

Why it matters: The board has a responsibility to ensure ballots are processed safely and transparently. The exterior inspection and duplicate‑transcription procedures are designed to preserve the integrity of the ballot while protecting staff and volunteers from exposure to unknown substances.

What happened next: Board members moved the inspection outdoors with two observers watching through a window; after inspection staff described the ballot as completed properly and containing a current photo ID, but advised against running a soiled ballot through sensitive scanning equipment. Staff said duplicators would duplicate the ballot in a controlled manner and that chemical analysis would be sought to identify the substance.

Context: Board members stressed the decision was a safety and chain‑of‑custody measure, not a judgment about voter intent. The board returned to its regular absentee review after the outside inspection and continued its work that night.