State to decide on Sunday voting in New Hanover County

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - After board members could not come to a unanimous vote, it will now be up to the state to decide if voting on Sunday will be an option in New Hanover County.

Board of Elections members considered several options for voting schedules for the upcoming election.

Chairman Jonathan Washburn and Secretary Jamie Getty voted for an option that did not include Sunday voting.

Member and Parliamentarian Thomas Pollard voted for an option that did.

Dozens of people attended and spoke at Tuesday's meeting.

Most were in favor of Sunday voting, but several spoke out against it.

Supporters said having the option to vote on a Sunday helps people with difficult work schedules make it to the polls.

"The government runs by the consent of the people of the United States, and we need to have as many of those people involved in voting and making choices in their government as possible," said Richard Poole, New Hanover County Democratic Party Chairman. "Because that's what makes our government legitimate."

But opponents argued it's not worth the extra thousands of dollars in taxpayer dollars.

"We are giving so many opportunities to people to vote," opponent Gabrielle Barone said. "We have early voting, absentee voting. Things are made so that people can vote, but they're not voting. So there you go, you have another issue. I also agree that it's not a cost that New Hanover County can bear right now."

Poole said he plans to testify for Sunday voting at the state level.

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