Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D

This country continues to struggle with voting irregularities most of which are caused by excessive reliance on absentee ballots. However, another means of affecting voting is through mismanagement of the polling sites. The recent evidence that in Arizona up to 52% of ballots were rejected by the tabulating machines in Maricopa County because the ballots were not printed correctly, resulting in excessively long lines and citizens giving up on voting on Election Day. On Election Day this year, similar outcomes were observed at polling sites in Craven County, although for different reasons. Let me explain.

I have worked as an electioneer (handing out voting information) at the Fairfield Harbour polling place in Craven County for ten years. During that time, I never observed the chaos at the local voting poll that occurred this past Election Day. I was at the poll in Fairfield Harbour from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM when the poll closed. The problems I observed were (1) excessively long lines all day resulting in waits of 45-60 minutes ; (2) the waiting line extended into the parking lot traffic pattern causing a dangerous safety issue; (3) curbside voting waits of up to 1 1/2 to 2 hours; (4) confusion at curbside voting resulting from mingling with the handicapped parking spaces; (5) and inability to access the public restrooms. What was the result of all this chaos? Predictably, many voters left without voting resulting in voter suppression.

It is essential to note, that none of these problems existed at any other election I witnessed during my prior electioneering at the same location. What was the cause? Well, according to the Chief Polling Judge and, importantly, a member of the Craven County Board of Election who came by the poll that day, these problems were the result of recent decisions by the Craven County Board of Election (BOE). The only reason provided by the BOE member was a concern that electioneers may distribute election material in the restrooms at the polling site! This is totally absurd. First, no case of this ever happening has been reported for the FFH site that I am aware of. Second, why would any electioneer stay inside the restroom in order to access the small percentage of voters who may use a restroom, when all voters can be accessed as they enter the polling place? When asked about people not being permitted to use the restrooms, the answer I received was “”…the BOE is not in the restroom business”.

It should be noted that none of the restrictions imposed on Election Day at the Fairfield Harbour polling site were in effect at the early voting site at 406 Craven St. Question: Were these changes done purposely to suppress the Election Day vote of Republicans, who vote overwhelmingly on Election Day, by a BOE controlled by Democrats? You decide. Does make one wonder.

At the Board of Election meeting on Dec 7th, I reported these problems to the Board. Their response was they would look into them , but that voters should consider voting absentee or early voting instead of waiting for Election Day. My response was the Board should make voting all of the three options efficient, safe, and convenient and not favor any specific option especially given the potential problems with absentee and early voting.