Buncombe elections board debates badge access to warehouse and staff-interaction rules

The Buncombe County Board of Elections on May 19 debated a staff-drafted resolution that would give board members identification-badge access to Elections Services facilities, including the office, boardroom and the warehouse at 50 Cox Avenue.

Staff provided a written draft that cites North Carolina General Statute 163-33 and state administrative rules governing storage and safekeeping of voting systems. The resolution would also implement internal policies for badge access and records of badge usage; staff explained the county monitors all badge activity.

The board's discussion focused on two intertwined issues: security/optics at the warehouse and preserving the chain of command between the board and Elections staff. Some members favored configuring badge access so board badges would only open the warehouse when a permanent staff member is already checked into the badge system, or limiting warehouse/double-secure area access to bipartisan pairs with staff present. Those safeguards are intended to prevent unilateral access to ballots or voting equipment and to avoid perceptions of board members directing staff work.

Other members argued that board members, as the body that certifies elections, should have reasonable access to offices and storage to carry out oversight duties; they emphasized a need for transparency and convenience. Several board members proposed striking a sentence that would allow board members to individually “ask” staff questions while physically observing work, preferring instead that questions be routed through the director so staff are not put in an awkward supervisory position.

The board asked staff to explore technical configurations (e.g., badge access conditioned on a staffer being checked in), to clarify alarm/disarm procedures at the warehouse, and to add language making double-secure spaces (rooms that require badge+code) accessible only in bipartisan pairs with staff present.

Why it matters: The resolution balances the board’s oversight role with security and staff-management concerns. It also affects access to machines and ballots stored at the county warehouse and will influence how the board conducts unannounced observations going forward.

Next steps: Staff will incorporate the board’s edits, circulate an amended draft for review, and the board planned to consider an electronic vote after members can view the redlined document. The board also discussed scheduling a short public or special meeting to finalize the resolution if needed.