— press release
RALEIGH, N.C. – In 2021, county boards of elections across North Carolina will conduct several important and required processes designed to keep the state’s voter rolls accurate and up to date.
These routine processes are required by state and federal laws. Accurate voter rolls are maintained by removing voters who have moved or died or are otherwise ineligible to vote in that jurisdiction.
Voter roll list maintenance is important because it ensures ineligible voters are not included on poll books, reduces the possibility for poll worker error and decreases opportunities for fraud.
As a result of these processes, the number of North Carolina voter registrations will decrease in the coming months. As of January 9, nearly 7.2 million voters were registered in the state.
[See Voter Registration Statistics]
[See “Maintaining the Voter Registration Database in North Carolina.” Updated July 27, 2017]
“The removal of voters who have moved and are no longer eligible to vote in that jurisdiction is a routine and important aspect of elections administration,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Before any voter’s registration is canceled, the county boards of elections attempt to contact the voter to allow them to confirm or update their registration.”
The following are details about three of the many list maintenance processes the county boards of elections will complete in 2021:
Biennial List Maintenance (No-contact process)
In the early part of every odd-numbered year, if a county board of elections has had no contact with a voter for two federal election cycles – a total of four years – and the voter has not voted during that time, it will send the voter a forwardable address confirmation mailing. The voter will be required to return the confirmation mailing within 30 days.
If the voter does not return the mailing, or the U.S. Postal Service returns it to the county board as undeliverable, then the voter’s record will be marked “inactive” in the state’s voter registration database. Inactive voters are still registered voters. If an inactive voter shows up to vote, the person will be asked to verify their address and update it, if necessary.
County boards will send mailings this year to voters with whom there has been no contact since October 12, 2018. Counties have started printing and mailing these notices, which must go out by April 15. More than 450,000 of these mailings are expected to be sent out statewide in 2021.
The registrations of these voters will be canceled if they do not confirm their registration by 2023.
Removal of Inactive Voters
County boards of elections also have begun to remove certain “inactive” voters from the rolls. Voters will be removed from registration lists this year after being sent a no-contact mailing in 2016. Any voter removed in this way would not have had any contact with their county board of elections for four federal election cycles, not voted in any election during that time and not responded to a confirmation mailing.
The State Board estimates about 380,000 inactive voters will be removed from the voter rolls in 2021.
Any removed registrant must be reinstated if the voter appears to vote and gives oral or written affirmation that the voter has not moved out of the county and has maintained residence continuously within the county. These voters’ votes will be counted absent evidence that they moved out of the county.
Voters may check their registration status at any time using the State Board’s Voter Search Tool: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
National Change of Address (NCOA) Mailings
In January and July of each year, the State Board provides the 100 county boards of elections with change of address data from the U.S. Postal Service. County boards must send voters in this dataset postcard mailings to the new address to confirm whether they have an unreported change of address for voting purposes.
These mailings allow voters to update their names or addresses within a county or notify the board of elections of a move outside of that county. The voter is asked to respond to the mailing within 30 days. If the voter does not respond, the voter will be mailed a traditional address confirmation notice to their existing mailing address.
If the voter does not respond to that notice within 30 days, the voter’s registration status will be changed to “inactive.”
If a voter is deceased, a near relative may use the mailing to report the death so the county board can cancel the registration.
Additional List Maintenance Efforts
N.C. elections officials also routinely remove voters who have died from the voter rolls. Death notifications are made available by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. County boards of elections also regularly remove voters who are convicted of felonies, using records from the N.C. Department of Public Safety and U.S. attorneys’ offices.
To learn more about registering to vote in North Carolina, visit: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering.
N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles customers may register or update their registration online here: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx.
Franklin County’s New Assistant County Manager Will Doerfer
/by WIZS Staff— press release
Franklin County, January 20, 2021: Franklin County has selected William “Will” Doerfer as Assistant County Manager. Mr. Doerfer comes to Franklin from the Town of Liberty in Randolph County, North Carolina where he served as Manager since November 2017. While in Liberty, Mr. Doerfer led the effort to secure more than five million dollars in infrastructure grants to improve the Town’s wastewater collection system. He also organized and spearheaded economic development efforts to revitalize historic downtown Liberty through the formation of a nonprofit corporation, Experience Liberty.
Among his duties as Assistant County Manager, Mr. Doerfer will provide direct supervision to departments as assigned, serve as lead on assigned projects, conduct budget research and development, assist in the development and implementation of policies, long-term planning and serve as Manager in the absence of the County Manager. He will assume his role effective February 15, 2021.
Mr. Doerfer is an Army 82nd Airborne veteran and alumni of both Guilford College and Appalachian State University where he earned his BA in Psychology and Masters of Public Administration, respectively. He is active in professional organizations including the International City / County Management Association (ICMA) and the North Carolina City & County Management Association (NCCCMA).
Mr. Doerfer was raised on a small family farm in rural Northeast Ohio where he learned the value of hard work and determination. A lifelong organized sports participant, he understands the importance of teamwork in the pursuit of a common goal. Mr. Doerfer brings with him his young family with wife Chelsea and sons Wesley (12), Liam (3), and Miles (4 months) and two dogs Ellie and Rigby.
“Mr. Doerfer’s experience and education will be an asset to Franklin County. I am delighted to have him join our leadership team,” County Manager Kim Denton said.
For additional information, please contact Kim Denton, Franklin County Manager, at (919) 496-5994.
Granville County Board of Education Academic Subcommittee Meeting Thursday, January 21
/by WIZS Staff— press release
The Granville County Board of Education Academic Subcommittee will meet virtually on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to review the NCDPI 5-year Facility Needs Survey which was completed and submitted on January 8. For more information or a link to the virtual meeting, please contact Dr. Stan Winborne, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Human Resources at winborne@gcs.k12.nc.us or Mrs. Alston Shave at shavea@gcs.k12.nc.us to receive a link to the meeting.
Mt. Moriah Continues Fight Against Food Insecurity
/by WIZS StaffIf you are presently facing food insecurity, Mt. Moriah A.M.E. Zion Church, in partnership with Livingstone College and the NC Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, is hosting a free Covid-19 testing event that will include free chicken and personal protective equipment. The event will be held this Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the church located at 5448 Highway 158 Business. Forty pound cases of fresh chicken and personal protective equipment will be given away while supplies last. For more information call 252-430-7999.
Presidential Inauguration Day TownTalk 1-20-21
/by John C. RoseClick to Listen to WIZS TownTalk Audio.
WIZS Your Community Voice – 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
WIZS Local News Audio 1-20-21 Noon
/by John C. RoseClick to Listen to Local News Audio.
WIZS Your Community Voice – 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
Pair of Pleased TownTalk Callers Receive 1st Shot
/by WIZS StaffThe logistics involved in rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations are complicated, to say the least. But area agencies are getting high marks from residents who have gotten their first dose. A couple of satisfied vaccine recipients phoned in to Town Talk Tuesday and told host John C. Rose about their experience.
In addition to the local health departments in Vance and Granville counties, Maria Parham Hospital and Vance Family Medicine in Henderson are giving vaccinations, as is Granville Health System in Oxford by appointment only.
A Granville County resident phoned in to report her experience getting her vaccine on Sunday afternoon at Granville Health System. “It was one of the best organized things have ever done,” Jean said. “We went in, they checked our name off, we got the shot,” she said, adding that they waited the required 15 minutes or so to make sure there were no reactions to the vaccine. “The shot did not hurt at all,” Jean said, adding that she has experienced no soreness at all at the site of the injection.
CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE CALLERS SAID
She spoke highly of the overall experience, and she expressed her gratitude to all the workers at the drive-up event. “They were doing a fantastic job,” she said. “We didn’t even have to get out of our car.”
The whole process was easy, Jean said, from start to finish. Cars filed in to the medical park adjacent to the hospital campus and then pulled in to the hospital parking lot to wait for 15 minutes after the vaccination, to make sure those who got the vaccine didn’t experience an adverse reaction. “I’m not a very good waiter,” Jean confessed, “but I didn’t even have to think about it, it was just a good medical experience.”
Another caller phoned in to express her pleasure with the experience she had in Vance County. Jane received her shot at the Vance health department. After being registered a couple of weeks ago, she got a call back for an appointment. “I was expecting to have a full parking lot, wait in line outside, the whole bit,” she told John C. Rose during Tuesday’s Town Talk. “I walked right in, there was no problem parking…I waited a few minutes, they gave me a shot,” she explained. The needle, she said, happily, was smaller and shorter than what she had seen on television. She described normal soreness at the site of the vaccination, like if she had gotten a flu shot. “I haven’t had any problems since,” she said.
“I was very happy to get my shot,” Jane said, adding that other family members living in other states also have gotten their vaccinations. “If you have the chance to get the shot,” she said, “go ahead and get it.”
Register to get the vaccine at www.gvph.org or call the local COVID hotline 252.295.1503 to learn more.
Franklin County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
/by WIZS Staff— press release
Franklin County Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Charrette (Virtual)
SCHEDULE
Franklin County, NC — Franklin County is developing a bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Through review of previous or ongoing planning & development efforts, remote and field analysis, and public involvement and stakeholder input, the team will identify a countywide recommended bicycle and pedestrian network. This project will consider infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and greenways in addition to complementary policies.
The community is invited to participate in this interactive, virtual workshop that will help shape the overall master plan.
Where: Zoom Virtual Meetings (see links below)
When: Two virtual workshops will take place at the end of January – January 25 from 4pm-5pm for a project introduction/open house, and with a work-in-progress presentation on January 28 from 4pm-5pm.
Monday, January 25, 2021
4:00pm – 5:00pm Virtual Public Workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Thursday, January 28, 2021
4:00pm – 5:00pm Virtual Public Workshop
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-aDqve1PTpCFuKcxCatJqA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Share your thoughts with planning staff: How can we improve walking and biking connectivity between and within Franklin County communities and County destinations?
The virtual workshops will include an overview presentation about the project and existing conditions, interactive exercises to collect ideas for plan recommendations, and opportunities to talk with planning staff and project team members about your ideas for improving walking and biking in Franklin County.
Home and Garden Show with Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie 01-19-21
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com on Tuesday at 4:30 PM.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 01-19-21 – Agricultural Nutrients
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.
County Boards of Elections Begin Regular Voter List Maintenance Processes
/by WIZS Staff— press release
RALEIGH, N.C. – In 2021, county boards of elections across North Carolina will conduct several important and required processes designed to keep the state’s voter rolls accurate and up to date.
These routine processes are required by state and federal laws. Accurate voter rolls are maintained by removing voters who have moved or died or are otherwise ineligible to vote in that jurisdiction.
Voter roll list maintenance is important because it ensures ineligible voters are not included on poll books, reduces the possibility for poll worker error and decreases opportunities for fraud.
As a result of these processes, the number of North Carolina voter registrations will decrease in the coming months. As of January 9, nearly 7.2 million voters were registered in the state.
[See Voter Registration Statistics]
[See “Maintaining the Voter Registration Database in North Carolina.” Updated July 27, 2017]
“The removal of voters who have moved and are no longer eligible to vote in that jurisdiction is a routine and important aspect of elections administration,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “Before any voter’s registration is canceled, the county boards of elections attempt to contact the voter to allow them to confirm or update their registration.”
The following are details about three of the many list maintenance processes the county boards of elections will complete in 2021:
Biennial List Maintenance (No-contact process)
In the early part of every odd-numbered year, if a county board of elections has had no contact with a voter for two federal election cycles – a total of four years – and the voter has not voted during that time, it will send the voter a forwardable address confirmation mailing. The voter will be required to return the confirmation mailing within 30 days.
If the voter does not return the mailing, or the U.S. Postal Service returns it to the county board as undeliverable, then the voter’s record will be marked “inactive” in the state’s voter registration database. Inactive voters are still registered voters. If an inactive voter shows up to vote, the person will be asked to verify their address and update it, if necessary.
County boards will send mailings this year to voters with whom there has been no contact since October 12, 2018. Counties have started printing and mailing these notices, which must go out by April 15. More than 450,000 of these mailings are expected to be sent out statewide in 2021.
The registrations of these voters will be canceled if they do not confirm their registration by 2023.
Removal of Inactive Voters
County boards of elections also have begun to remove certain “inactive” voters from the rolls. Voters will be removed from registration lists this year after being sent a no-contact mailing in 2016. Any voter removed in this way would not have had any contact with their county board of elections for four federal election cycles, not voted in any election during that time and not responded to a confirmation mailing.
The State Board estimates about 380,000 inactive voters will be removed from the voter rolls in 2021.
Any removed registrant must be reinstated if the voter appears to vote and gives oral or written affirmation that the voter has not moved out of the county and has maintained residence continuously within the county. These voters’ votes will be counted absent evidence that they moved out of the county.
Voters may check their registration status at any time using the State Board’s Voter Search Tool: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
National Change of Address (NCOA) Mailings
In January and July of each year, the State Board provides the 100 county boards of elections with change of address data from the U.S. Postal Service. County boards must send voters in this dataset postcard mailings to the new address to confirm whether they have an unreported change of address for voting purposes.
These mailings allow voters to update their names or addresses within a county or notify the board of elections of a move outside of that county. The voter is asked to respond to the mailing within 30 days. If the voter does not respond, the voter will be mailed a traditional address confirmation notice to their existing mailing address.
If the voter does not respond to that notice within 30 days, the voter’s registration status will be changed to “inactive.”
If a voter is deceased, a near relative may use the mailing to report the death so the county board can cancel the registration.
Additional List Maintenance Efforts
N.C. elections officials also routinely remove voters who have died from the voter rolls. Death notifications are made available by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. County boards of elections also regularly remove voters who are convicted of felonies, using records from the N.C. Department of Public Safety and U.S. attorneys’ offices.
To learn more about registering to vote in North Carolina, visit: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering.
N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles customers may register or update their registration online here: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx.