After a fiery public hearing at their previous meeting, Columbus County Board of Elections on Monday is expected to discuss and potentially vote on a plan to cut two early polling places this fall.
Ransom and Fair Bluff would see their early polls close for the 13 day early voting period under the plan being considered by the BoE. Election Day precincts would not be affected.
Statewide, county board are considering reducing early polling places that consistently underperform. Ransom and Fair Bluff are also the only two early polls where the county must pay $100 a day to use the facilities.
Around 100 people attended the early June meeting, with most criticizing the proposal. Elections board members were accused of trying to suppress minority votes.
Under the proposal, Tabor City, Chadbourn and the Board of Elections office would be the only early polls in the county. Opponents say the additional travel time will prevent some ballots from being cast, especially by workers in Wilmington and elsewhere who will face an addition 45 minutes travel time to Whiteville.
Around 70 percent of Columbus County voters took advantage of the early polls option in 2024. Early voting has continued to rise since 2016.
Ahead of Monday’s vote, Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) sent a letter to the board of elections detailing the impact on voters if the board moved forward with the proposal, which would close the Ransom Event Center and Fair Bluff Fire Department sites. Read the letter here: https://southerncoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026.06.23_Columbus-EV-Advocacy-Letter-SCSJ_Final-1.pdf .
Monday’s meeting is set for 5 p.m.
