North Carolina Board Approves Guilford County Early Voting Plan

Contentious Decision on Early Voting Sites in Guilford County

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has given the green light to a contentious early voting plan for Guilford County, stirring concerns over voter access.

This decision follows the High Point City Council’s recent resolution advocating for the inclusion of Washington Terrace Park as an early voting location. The Council’s move came in response to last year’s divided vote by the Guilford County Board of Elections, which failed to reach a unanimous decision on the matter.

In a proposal led by the Board’s Republican majority, Washington Terrace Park was notably excluded. This exclusion has sparked concern among local residents, especially within Black communities, who consider the site crucial.

Rev. Jamarcus Bunn from Temple Memorial Baptist Church emphasized the importance of the location, stating, “Relocating or eliminating this early voting site would place an undue and disproportionate burden on its residents, many of whom are elderly, working class, or without reliable transportation, thereby creating barriers to the fundamental right to vote.”

Washington Terrace Park has historically served as an early voting site during primaries from 2012 to 2024, with the exception of 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions, according to county officials.

Despite these concerns, the Republican-led state Board of Elections voted 3-2 in favor of the proposal that excludes the park. The decision also omits UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T from the list of early voting sites, a move that has sparked backlash from students who want the sites to remain.

Democratic Board Member Jeff Carmon opposed the plan, voicing concerns about the potential for increased division leading up to the midterm elections. “These students are saying, ‘We want our site. We want to engage with the process.’ I don’t think we should do anything but support that,” Carmon remarked.