Swain County Board of Elections moved from its longtime 1422 Old US 19 location to the Swain County Business Education and Training Center Tuesday, Aug. 5.
“The Board has wanted to move for years,” said Adam Byrnes, elections director. “Relocation had to take place for reasons tied to voter access and safety concerns.”
The former office was at an intersection that included a major road, which Byrnes said compromised access and safety during early voting, as well as internal space for voting and office operations. Byrnes added that parking was about as limited as storage space.
“Additionally, the floor was uneven, which led to safety issues during voting,” he said. “I communicated these issues to commissioners during my department head report on March 4.”
At its regular meeting on May 13, Swain County Board of Elections voted unanimously, 4-0, to formally request the relocation of its office to the Swain County Business Education and Training Center.
“This followed a process in which the board diligently assessed feasible sites for relocation throughout the Bryson City area, including in a meeting with the county manager (Lottie Barker), who was involved throughout the relocation process,” Byrnes said.
The Swain County Board of Commissioners voted on June 17 to approve the relocation request.
The move was performed by a private contractor and cost $2,710. According to Byrnes the price fell approximately $555 below its initial estimate.
“The training center has abundant space for voting, parking, storage, training and office operations and is in an area that is far more conducive to road safety during busy voting periods than the previous board office,” said Byrnes. “This new location will enable the board to better serve the public, enhance voter safety, and continue to conduct free and fair elections.”
The new board office will host early voting for the first time this fall, Oct.16 through Nov. 1 during the Bryson City Municipal Election.
“We encourage all town residents to vote this year and we encourage all Swain County residents to come by and visit our new location during working hours,” Byrnes said.
The Swain County Board of Elections office is located at 45 East Ridge Drive. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.