North Carolina’s State Board of Elections recently held an emergency meeting to address reported technical issues at two precincts, resulting in an extension of voting hours. The board approved an additional half hour of voting at polling locations in Burke County and Wilson County, allowing them to remain open until 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
In Wilson County, located east of Raleigh, voters experienced delays due to printer malfunctions, preventing them from casting their ballots for approximately an hour. State election board spokesperson Patrick Gannon confirmed that the issue was resolved, ensuring that voters could exercise their right to vote.
Similarly, in Burke County in the western region of the state, a polling place encountered delays caused by a laptop malfunction. Local elections director Kenny Rhyne reported that the technical problem was addressed, allowing voting to resume smoothly.
The decision to extend voting hours at these precincts aims to accommodate individuals who were unable to participate in the electoral process during the initial hours of polling. By granting this additional time, the State Board of Elections seeks to uphold the integrity of the voting process and ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots.
