Haywood County secures voting machines as turnout spikes 35%

Election officials in western North Carolina are finalizing preparations for Tuesday's election after early voting turnout surged by more than 35% compared to previous cycles. In Haywood County, Elections Director Robbie Inman confirmed that voting machines are currently stored in a locked warehouse. The equipment has undergone testing and is ready for delivery to polling locations across the county.

Inman explained that the board documents every step of the voting process to maintain security. Each ballot is linked to a voter application through a unique identifier number. This system allows officials to track ballots from the moment they are issued through the final count. Inman stated that multiple checks ensure ballots are properly tracked and that the documentation covers the entire process.

Statewide, the North Carolina State Board of Elections has reported no challenges at early voting precincts. Jason Tyson, a spokesperson for the state board, said every county has contingency plans for various scenarios. These plans include having generators available for power outages and backup tabulators ready if voting equipment malfunctions.

In neighboring Buncombe County, Elections Director Corinne Duncan announced that 600 workers will be stationed at polling places on Tuesday. Duncan noted that these teams are bipartisan. Officials in the region are also conducting nightly audits of early voting records. These audits involve matching voter authorization forms with physical ballots and verifying the data against computer records and tabulators.

Early voting concludes tomorrow at 3 p.m. Following the close of early voting, equipment will be returned to secure storage. It will then be transported to polling locations ahead of Tuesday's election. Haywood County is preparing 29 polling locations for the upcoming vote. Officials report no major issues have arisen during the early voting period so far.

The state board expects high turnout on Election Day given the strong numbers from early voting. Tyson emphasized that the backup infrastructure is in place to handle the volume. The equipment in Haywood County is staged for immediate deployment once early voting ends. The process ensures that all materials are accounted for before they reach the voters.