GOP observer flags curbside, signage and training gaps after Harnett County early voting; board praises ballot-on-demand printers

Donna Blair Hanger, identifying herself as an observer for the GOP, urged the Harnett County board to address curbside voting, signage and training shortcomings following early voting for a recent primary.

"We do need an overt system of some type," Hanger said, describing curbside workers sitting in cars because of cold or rain, signs blown down or obscured and parents confusing curbside voting areas with school pickup zones. She said some curbside locations lacked visible staff or signage and recommended an alert system that is more reliable than the old bells.

Hanger also raised procedural concerns about poll-worker and chief-judge behavior, saying workers sometimes failed to read the curbside oath, inconsistently checked party affiliation during a primary and at times used identification only to confirm name and address rather than following the full procedure. "There was very few issues," she said about equipment, but added that human error and "growing pains" around new sites and practices needed attention.

The chair (speaker 1) and other board members responded that most polling places opened on time and reported positive impressions of the new ballot-on-demand printers. "We've heard nothing but wonderful things about the ballot on demand," the chair said, while an elections staff member added that, aside from some initial double-feed or sticky-paper problems, poll sites were "up and running at 06:30" and staff knew the spoil-and-reprint policy for any printing errors.

Board members proposed additional follow-up: inviting chief judges to the April meeting for direct feedback and holding a post-election "hot wash" or review to reinforce procedures. Members and staff discussed options for more frequent or more interactive training—including a "train the trainers" approach—to make the short routine training sessions more effective.

Elections staff gave an operational snapshot, reporting that at 4:00 p.m. the county had recorded 3,825 voters and that, as of the update, there were no formal voter complaints. The chair also announced a preview of eight absentee ballots available for inspection; staff said five ballots were associated with driver’s licenses and presented them for review.

Before previewing absentee ballots, the board recessed after a motion to do so was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and the motion passed on an affirmative response.

Next steps: the board agreed to invite chief judges to discuss problems and best practices and to pursue additional training and signage improvements ahead of the November election.