The Guilford County Board of Elections has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, July 7 at 2 p.m. to discuss a topic that’s on a lot of people’s minds, and one that often proves to be contentious: the early voting schedule and related preparations for the election.
Since this year’s November 3 election will include a hotly contested presidential race the interest level in the election’s procedures will only be heightened.
Election board meetings are generally held in very small venues. However, this meeting, like a previous June 16 elections board meeting, will be held in the county commissioners spacious meeting room on the second floor of the Old Guilford County Court House at 301 W. Market St. in downtown Greensboro.
COVID-19 has changed practically everything about meetings and the county offered this statement regarding the special meeting: “The Board of Elections remains committed to providing an open and transparent public process during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of our community and staff, and in compliance with the State of North Carolina Stay-At-Home order, this special meeting will be open for limited in-person citizen participation and may be viewed through the virtual platform, GoToWebinar.”
So, here’s what that means in a more detailed form:
- The meeting room will be limited to in-person attendance by citizens for the first thirty pre-registered attendees.
- In-person comments during the speakers from the floor portion of the meeting will be limited to ten participants. The Board of Elections emphasizes, “ONLY the first ten pre-registered attendees interested in participating during Speakers From the Floor will have the opportunity to offer in-person comments.”
- Limited seating will be available for the media – also on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Citizens may watch and/or listen to the meeting by visiting GoToWebinar on a computer, tablet or smartphone at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8308510600744284939 or by calling 1 (562) 247-8422 and using the access code 589-954-299.
People who wish to attend or wish to participate in-person during the speakers from the floor portion of the meeting can register by sending an email to Deputy Elections Director Christopher Duffey at cduffey@guilfordcountync.gov by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.
Anyone unable to attend can submit written comments to the board at publiccomments@guilfordcountync.gov or by sending snail mail to “Guilford County Elections Director, 301 W. Market Street – 1st Floor, Greensboro, NC 27401.” Comments will be received up to 12 p.m. on July 7 and will be archived in the meeting files.
