Board members spent part of the canvass reviewing voter turnout patterns and operational lessons from the Nov. 4 municipal election, including how early-voting locations affected participation and how staff handled a small number of manual edits.

Devin and other elections staff explained how the DS200 daily tabulations and reconciliations worked and said the spreadsheets balanced. Devin highlighted that opening the Weaverville Community Center as an early voting site produced 617 voters on its one open day, and noted that some single-day sites saw as few as 15 voters; the Cox Avenue site saw peak single-day turnout of 42 on Oct. 31.

Board members expressed concern about low turnout in many precincts — one precinct recorded turnout as low as 8% — and asked what additional outreach the office could do for small municipal contests. Executive Director responded that outreach and publicity have expanded (press releases, Facebook Live events and media placements on WLOS and Blue Ridge Public Radio), and noted that Asheville’s decision in 2020 to move its municipal election to even-numbered years reduced this election’s size but that turnout has nonetheless increased since then.

Staff walked the board through operational issues: one voter inserted a ballot in the wrong precinct tabulator and staff corrected the error; two ballots required a write-in correction consistent with voter-intent guidelines; there were no challenge hearings and no failed same-day registration verifications for this election.

Board members asked for more detailed precinct-level reports that break down how totals (early voting, absentee, provisional, election day) add to each precinct’s total; staff said they will attempt to provide a report that breaks those figures down for future canvasses. Members also requested an update from the county attorney about a pending MOU and facilities conversation; staff said that update should come early next week.

The board praised staff for conducting the election and cross-checking results. The meeting concluded after the certification vote and the usual notarized abstract procedures.