Early voting has been brisk in Haywood

Oct. 28—During the first six days of early voting in town elections across the county, nearly 600 votes were cast by Thursday, Oct. 26, with another seven early voting days still to go.

The number of ballots cast as of Thursday was roughly half the total number of voters who came out during early voting in 2021 for elections in Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley, said Robert Inman, director of the Haywood County Board of Elections.

Waynesville did not have an election in 2021, so the slightly higher totals at this stage of early voting could reflect the fact that Waynesville voters are in the mix this year.

The latest early vote tally includes 24 Canton voters, 10 in Clyde, 132 in Maggie Valley and 427 in Waynesville.

As voters enter the polling site, a large sign on the door urges them to have their identification ready. The issue of presenting identification to vote in North Carolina has been tied up in court for nearly a decade, and other than during an election in 2018, this is the first time that identification is required.

"We've not had a single negative comment about it," said Carroll Holder, the chief election judge at the early voting site. "It's been so smooth."

Election worker Ann Simmons agreed.

"We've had no complaints whatsoever, and everybody has been very receptive," she said.

For those who don't have a valid form of identification, a card can be obtained at the Haywood County Board of Elections office at 63 Elmwood Way in Waynesville.

Elderly individuals who had a valid driver's license as of their 65th birthday can still use it for identification.

Some voters showing up to the polls had to be turned away because they didn't live inside the town limits. Only those who live within the municipal boundaries of a town can vote in the election for that town.

For residents who don't know whether they are inside the town limits, the election workers have learned that a single question can easily settle the matter — does the town pick up your trash?

The 2024 election season is right around the corner, with a primary election in February.

Poll watchers

Those voting early will notice a roped-off square area in front of the election workers' table where poll observers can be seated to watch for irregularities in the election process. There are inside and outside observers.

Any voter or political group has the right to monitor the comings and goings of voters as long as they are 50 feet away from the entrance to the polling site and are called outside observers.

Those who observe inside the voting enclosure must be appointed in advance by a political party.

The inside observers may take notes, but not take images, video or audio, and can report concerns to the chief judge. They may not interfere with the election process, may not speak to voters or wear or distribute campaign materials.

Tom Fleckenstein was the afternoon observer on Wednesday. He has been an observer previously, and thinks poll observers are needed, but said after watching the crew in charge of the early voting, he has no concerns.

"These guys are first class, very professional," he said. "I have yet to see any mistakes."

Inman said only the Republican Party has appointed inside observers for the early voting process. Appointments for Election Day poll watchers aren't due until five days beforehand, he added.

The single early voting location at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center (located at 81 Elmwood Way in Waynesville) will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 3, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.

For those who prefer to vote on Election Day, all voting precincts within the municipalities will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7.