State board upholds Kernodle Center as Burlington early voting site

The N.C. Board of Elections voted 3-2 on Tuesday in Raleigh to uphold Alamance County’s decision to designate Burlington’s Kernodle Center as one of three early voting locations for the March 3 primary. The state board’s confirmation follows a similarly divided vote by the county board of elections last month and settles a contested choice between the senior center and a site on Elon University’s campus.

Both the county and state votes broke down strictly along party lines, with the three Republican members of each board overruling the two Democrats who had favored the south gym at Elon. State law requires that any local board decision that is not unanimous be escalated to the state board for review, and the split ruling over the Kernodle Center was the only Alamance County disposition that triggered that process. The remaining two early voting sites were approved unanimously by the county board and were not subject to state review.

With the state board’s decision, the county elections office has formally added Kernodle Center, 1535 South Mebane Street, to the roster of early voting locations. The other approved sites are the Graham Recreation Center at 311 College Street and the Mebane Arts and Community Center at 633 Corregidor Drive. Those locations will together serve residents who plan to cast ballots ahead of the March primaries.

The disagreement over site selection reflects broader tensions that can arise when jurisdictions choose polling locations. A senior center and a university gym draw different populations and present different access considerations; the split vote underscores how partisan preferences can shape decisions about where voters go to cast early ballots. For Alamance County residents, the practical question is straightforward: the Kernodle Center will be an option for early voters in Burlington this election cycle.

County election officials will post schedules and hours for early voting; voters who plan to cast ballots ahead of March 3 should confirm times and any ID or registration requirements with the Alamance County elections office. The state board’s ruling closes this chapter of contention but keeps attention on how site choices affect turnout and convenience in a county where small changes in access can matter to close local races.

Looking ahead, the selection is final for this primary, and the community will soon see how the mix of sites - a senior center, a city rec facility, and the Mebane arts center - serves the county’s diverse electorate. Check with the elections office for specifics so you can plan when and where to vote.