Columbus County proposal would reduce early voting sites from five to one, raising access concerns

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Columbus County voters could see a major reduction in early voting access under a proposal from the Columbus County Board of Elections that would leave just one early voting location in the county if approved.

The proposal, introduced during a May 11 meeting by board Chair Jillian McPherson-Edge, would consolidate all early voting sites into the elections office in Whiteville, currently the county’s administrative hub. The next Board of Elections meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, June 8, with final adoption of the early voting plan expected June 29.

If approved, the change would reduce early voting locations from five to one, marking a significant departure from long-standing practice in Columbus County, North Carolina, where voters have had access to multiple early voting sites across the county since at least 2008.

The proposed consolidation would leave only the elections office in Whiteville, North Carolina as the sole early voting site. Advocates say the change could significantly increase travel times for many voters in the county, which spans roughly 955 square miles, with some residents potentially facing more than an hour of round-trip travel to cast an early ballot.

Early voting has become the dominant method of participation in recent election cycles. According to data cited in the proposal, more than 50% of ballots in 2022 were cast during early voting in Columbus County, increasing to more than 70% in 2024, with most early ballots cast at sites outside the Whiteville office.

Voting rights advocates have raised concerns about the potential impact on accessibility and turnout. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice sent a letter to the elections board outlining potential burdens on voters if the proposal moves forward.

The proposal has also drawn criticism from local civil rights leaders. “Columbus County voters have fought too hard and too long for access to the ballot to see it stripped away like this,” said Curtis Hill, president of the Columbus County chapter of the NAACP.

The county’s Board of Commissioners has approved a budget that accounts for maintaining the usual number of early voting sites for the general election. Community members and advocates are asking the Board of Elections to halt this proposal to ensure all Columbus County residents have access to the ballot.