New voter cards on the way for County School Board districts

Press release from Buncombe County:

Following the passage of NC Session Law 2023-32 (HB66), the Buncombe County School Board recently approved a new electoral map. What does this mean for Buncombe voters? Your school attendance districts remain the same but your school board voting districts are different. Voters will now choose from two school board candidates on their ballot instead of seven; one candidate to represent their district (1-6) and another at-large candidate representing the entire County, but not including the Asheville City School district area.

Buncombe County Election Services will be mailing new voter cards to all active voters in a Buncombe County School district starting on Monday, July 8. Those cards include:

• Name and Address of voter with mailing address
• Election Day Voting Location and Address
• Election Districts
• Political Party

Look up your voting districts at https://gis.buncombecounty.org/districts/. If you do not receive a card by the end of July, Election Services encourages people to look up their voter status to make sure address/registration information is current. Sample ballots will also available through this tool beginning in September. You may update voter registration information such as address, and political party through Friday, Oct. 11. As a reminder, same-day voter registration is available during Early Voting.

For more answers to all your election-related questions in Buncombe County, visit our website atbuncombecounty.org/vote. Did you know you can sign up for election reminders via mobile text or email notifications? It’s easy, just text “bcalert” to 99411 or visit buncombecounty.org/codered, sign up for Buncombe Alerts, and choose “election reminders.”

Important dates

• Jan. 1:  Absentee ballots can be requested for elections in 2024
• June 10 —July 5 (noon) –  Candidate filing for Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors
• July 5 —19 (noon) –  Candidate filing for Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, and Montreat
• July 5 —Aug. 2 (noon) –  Candidate filing for Buncombe County Board of Education
• Sept. 6:  Mailing of absentee ballots starts
• Oct. 11:  Deadline for voter registration or party changes (same-day registration will be available during Early Voting)
• Oct. 17 —Nov. 2:  Early Voting
• Nov. 5:  General Election

Reminders

• Voters will now be asked to present a valid photo identification when voting in person. If you do not have a valid photo ID card, you may obtain one from your county board of elections prior to the election, through the end of the early voting period. If you do not have a valid photo ID card on Election Day, you may still vote and have your vote counted by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment (or “Photo ID Exception Form”) as to why you have not presented a valid photo ID. The Exception Form can also be used if you have a religious objection to being photographed or are a victim of a recently declared natural disaster. Click here to learn more.

• The “I Voted” Election Sticker contest is still underway. The deadline for submissions is July 12. Find out more at engage.buncombecounty.org/2024bcelectionstickercontest

• ExpressVote ballot marking machines were approved for use in 2023 and will be used at all Early Voting locations in 2024. Click here to watch a video.

• Please note that the deadline to return completed domestic absentee ballots is now on Election Day, which is Nov. 5. Previously there was a grace period.