The North Carolina State Board of Elections concluded an 11‑hour meeting Thursday by approving early‑voting plans that cut Sunday voting in 13 of the 20 contested counties. While the board added more than 1,300 early‑voting hours overall, it removed 16 Sunday days and substituted extended Saturday hours in many locations.
How the board decides
County election boards submit their preferred early‑voting schedules. If every board member agrees, the state board automatically adopts that plan. When even one member dissents, the state board must choose between the majority plan, the minority plan, or create its own schedule. This cycle saw 20 county plans sent to the state for final review.
Partisan split and the auditor’s role
Republican Chair Francis De Luca opened the meeting hoping to move past former auditor liaison Dallas Woodhouse’s influence. Woodhouse, who resigned in July after emails revealed he advised county officials on early‑voting locations and hours, was repeatedly mentioned by both parties. In 2024, a law shifted appointment power for county election board chairs and state board members from the governor to the state auditor, flipping the boards’ majorities to Republican in mid‑2025.
Democratic board member Siobhan Millen proposed a motion to bar state‑board members from collaborating with the auditor’s office on any matter that could favor a party, race, or demographic group. The motion failed, and Democrats continued to raise concerns about Woodhouse’s communications throughout the session.
Sunday voting controversy
Sunday voting has become a flashpoint in North Carolina. Republicans argue that Sunday should remain a day of rest for religious reasons and that eliminating it gives election workers a needed break. Democrats contend that Sunday is essential for working voters and for Black voters who attend “Souls to the Polls” events after worship services.
In this cycle, Sunday voting was contested in 15 counties, including Anson, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Greene, Harnett, Lee, Nash, Pasquotank, Pitt, Rockingham, Rowan, Scotland, Union and Wayne. The board’s final decisions largely followed Republican preferences, cutting Sunday hours in most counties. Harnett, Nash, Chatham and Wayne each lost two Sundays; Greene lost one. Craven and Scotland kept their 2022 plans, and Rockingham added a Saturday but not the Sunday Democrats sought.
County examples
Union County – Previously offered early voting every weekend. This cycle, budget constraints cited by Republican chair Chris Duggan led to a plan with only Saturday voting. Democrat Michelle Burnette argued that Sunday voting aids working parents and those with transportation challenges, but the board approved the all‑Saturday plan.
Anson County – Faced staffing shortages, requiring state‑board staff to fill gaps. Republicans proposed a minimal plan with one site and no weekend hours, the lowest allowed by law. After a brief consideration of a Saturday‑only option with extended hours—prompted by a Woodhouse text urging more Saturday time—the board settled on the no‑weekend plan. Board member Matthew Longworth cited his Christian belief in a Sabbath day of rest as a reason to avoid Sunday voting.
Impact on voters
Across all 100 early‑voting plans, the state board’s adjustments will provide more than 1,300 additional early‑voting hours and a modest increase in sites compared with the 2022 midterm election. However, the removal of Sunday days may affect voters who rely on that day for work or worship‑related schedules.
Democrats on the board warned that eliminating Sunday voting could suppress turnout among certain demographic groups, while Republicans emphasized the need for election‑worker rest and adherence to what they view as a biblically‑inspired Sabbath.
Looking ahead
The board’s decisions set the early‑voting landscape for the 2026 general election. Both parties are likely to monitor turnout data closely, using the results to shape future debates over weekend voting, budget allocations, and the role of the state auditor’s office in election administration.
Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.
