Board of Elections approves precinct mergers; about 2,200 voters affected by changes

The Burke County Board of Elections held a public hearing and then voted unanimously to approve a set of proposed precinct mergers developed over three years of work. The elections director reported that roughly 2,200 of the county’s approximately 17,000 registered voters will be affected by the changes.

The director said the changes will be advertised and certified to the state and that mailers will be sent to affected voters; signs will be posted at former polling locations to inform voters of new sites. The director said the consolidations are intended to reduce the number of small precincts, improve efficiencies for poll workers and equipment handling, and provide backup staffing when a poll worker is absent on election day.

Citizens submitted petitions about specific mergers; staff reviewed the petition thresholds under code. The county received four petitions: one from "Golf" (79 signatures, below the 88 needed for that precinct’s 20% threshold and not affected by changes), one from Alexander (28 signatures), Monnerlin (1 signature), and Scott’s Crossroads (48 signatures submitted but four were not registered voters, leaving 44 valid signatures of a 52-signature 20% threshold). The elections director said affected voters would receive maps and mailers and staff would field follow-up questions from residents.