Sunday voting raises questions: Davidson County residents encouraged to comment by Friday
Davidson County residents are included in a few communities invited to weigh in on election protocol. Debates surrounding dates, hours and locations for early voting typically fall along party lines. While many party leaders encourage voting, when and where that happens is often left for scrutiny by governing bodies. In the case of the November 8, 2022 election parties, local party leaders are promoting the public comment period due to close on 5 p.m. Friday, September 9 for Davidson County voters.
Davidson County’s board approved a plan that includes a Sunday voting option with a narrow margin of 4 to 3 split along party lines. The county is one of 14 in the state to submit a non-unanimous one-stop early voting plan for the November 8 general election.
Statewide leaders say the vote taken by the local board is likely to be upheld, but when it comes to early voting, by statute it has be a unanimous decision. When not unanimous, it goes to the state and the state has to make that determination. Other counties include Bladen, Brunswick, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Lenoir, Lincoln, Martin, Nash, Pasquotank, Robeson, Surry and Union will have a similar review period. View the 2022 non-unanimous one-stop plans
NC statutes require state approval when local BOEs are not unanimous. “If the county board of elections is unable to reach unanimity in favor of a Plan for Implementation for that odd-numbered year, a member or members of the county board of elections may petition the State Board to adopt a Plan for Implementation for the county, and the State Board may adopt a Plan for Implementation for that county. However, throughout the period required by G.S. 163-227.2(b), any Plan of Implementation approved under this subsection shall provide for a minimum of regular business hours consistent with daily hours presently observed by the county board of elections for the county board of elections, or its alternate, and for uniform locations, days, and hours for all other additional one-stop sites in that county.”
The State Board of Elections, at its September 13 meeting, will adopt one-stop early voting plans for county boards of elections that did not adopt unanimous plans and petitioned the State Board to adopt a plan for them. These plans will include mail-in ballots and other early voting-related questions.
In a newsletter following the decision, Republican state senator Steve Jarvis wrote…
“It’s my understanding that the Davidson County Board of Elections, has voted to include Sunday Voting. I would like to ask them to consider not only the moral ethics of this, but also the impact working 13 days straight would have on them. We all need a day of rest, and we are not getting any younger! I was taken back that this was even up for discussion.”
Jarvis went on to write, “With nearly 50 polling places and [five] early polling sites in Davidson County, I am astounded that anyone would open up Sunday voting. The people of Davidson County have had and continue to have ample time and opportunity to cast their votes between Sundays.
Our forefathers realizing the importance of Sunday would not even allow a bill to be signed into law on Sunday. The Constitution states explicitly that the President of the United States has 10 days to sign a bill into law EXCLUDING SUNDAY.”
Proponents for extending voting hours to Sunday say it’s important to consider family and work schedules. "The Davidson County Democratic Party strongly supports Sunday voting here in Davidson County and we urge our N.C. State Board of Elections to approve the recommendation brought forward by our local BOE chair and its democratic members,” JacQuez Johnson, chairman of the Davidson County Democratic Party, said.
“Sunday voting has for a long time now brought about much debate, and while we understand both sides, we choose to support Sunday voting for the single mother, who's working two jobs to provide for her family. For our working-class voters who endure second or third-shift schedules. Voting is our constitutional right and we should be doing our part to help ensure more Americans have their voices heard at the ballot box."
Democratic party leaders say it’s not just an issue of Sunday voting, pointing to national concerns about voter access.
Both parties are encouraging Davidson County residents to respond to the plan.
Locations and hours are being finalized through the plan. Either way, early voting begins Thursday, October 20, 2022, begins the 17-day one-stop early voting period for the 2022 statewide general election. The in-person early voting period ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 5, 2022. During the early voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any one-stop site in their county. Eligible individuals may register and vote at the same time. As they become available, early voting sites and schedules, by county, will be posted at the One-Stop Early Voting Site Search. Find details about early voting at Vote Early in Person.
