Some Brunswick Co. pastors pushing for Sunday early voting hours

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Church leaders in Brunswick County are pushing the county's election board to open up early voting on two Sundays so they can get parishioners and others to vote. Pastor Ray Gilbert is one of the area pastors pushing to open early voting centers on Saturdays.

"If we're really about a democracy, and we really want to see good voter turnout, to me it's a no-brainer," Gilbert said.

He said many people who live in Brunswick County work in either New Hanover or Horry County and can't make it out to vote during the hours early voting runs. Right now, early voting is scheduled to run Monday through Saturday at several locations in Brunswick County from October 18 through November 3.

"Try to get to Calabash by 6 o'clock with the early voting. When on Sunday after your morning worship service you can go out and vote before you eat dinner or after you eat dinner," he said.

Gilbert said if the board adds early voting hours on Sunday, several churches plan to bus parishioners to the polls after church.

"If the board of elections understands this is going to be one way to get us a good voter turnout and it's not just church folk that may vote on Sunday.  It's people that may work Monday through Saturday," he said.

The board of elections will meet Monday at 9 a.m. at the Brunswick County Government Complex to discuss the issue.

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