State board approves Eric Navagh as New Hanover County elections director

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina State Board of Elections has approved the appointment of Eric Navagh as director of the New Hanover County Board of Elections, effective July 1.

The appointment follows a unanimous recommendation by the bipartisan New Hanover County Board of Elections during its June 16 meeting.

Navagh has served as interim deputy elections director for New Hanover County since earlier this year and has worked for the Board of Elections since July 2025.

“Thank you to the New Hanover County Board of Elections for this opportunity to serve as Elections Director,” Navagh said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside our committed staff and the hundreds of election officials in New Hanover County. Our team’s focus continues to be on the very important work of administering accurate, safe and secure elections for our citizens.”

Navagh assumes the permanent leadership role following the departure of former Elections Director DeNay Harris.

The State Board voted in May to end Harris’ employment after all five members of the New Hanover County Board of Elections petitioned for her removal earlier this year. Harris’ employment officially ended June 9.