Alamance Elections Board Split Sends Third Early Vote Site to State

The five member Alamance County Board of Elections met December 18 and approved early voting locations for the March primary, choosing Graham Recreation Center in Graham and Mebane Arts and Community Center in Mebane by unanimous vote. The board also voted unanimously to add one Saturday and one Sunday to the state mandated early voting schedule, and set additional weekend dates for local sites, providing more options during the early voting window.

Board members were divided, however, on a third early voting site. The Republican appointed majority favored Kernodle Senior Center in Burlington, while the two Democratic appointees supported Elon University south gym. Because the decision was not unanimous, state rules require the North Carolina State Board of Elections to select the third site, and the county level dispute has been referred to that body for final determination.

The county board set the start of early voting for Thursday, February 12, 2026, with local site hours to be those selected by the county board as described at the meeting. Final confirmation of the full site list and hours will await the state board selection of the disputed third location.

The split on the third site highlights competing priorities for accessibility and turnout. Kernodle Senior Center is centrally located in Burlington and likely to be convenient for older residents and those without campus access. Elon University south gym would concentrate resources near a major student population, affecting younger voters and those living in the university area. The state board decision will therefore shape where mobilization efforts and transportation planning should focus ahead of the primary.

For voters, the immediate consequence is uncertainty about one early voting location until the state board acts. Residents should monitor announcements from election officials for confirmation of the final site roster and specific hours. The county board expanded weekend access, which could improve convenience for working voters and those with limited weekday availability, but the location dispute underscores how local board decisions can directly influence voter access and turnout.