The Watauga County Board of Elections voted Wednesday to reverse its decision to combine three Boone precincts into one superprecinct serving over 9,000 voters, citing concerns about “misinformation being distributed” regarding the recombination. The board also passed a resolution moving the newly-restored polling place on Appalachian State University campus from the Plemmons Student Union to Legends, an on-campus nightclub and social center located at 190 Hardin St.

The board’s plan to eliminate an early-voting site on ASU campus, upheld by the State Board of Elections Tuesday, remains in effect.

Republican board members Luke Eggers and Bill Aceto argued that Legends would be a more visible site for the general public than the Plemmons Student Union, also expressing concern about the student union’s parking capacity and handicap accessibility.

Kathleen Campbell, the board’s only Democrat, proposed moving the site to the newly-renovated Linville Falls Room. Campbell said the Linville Falls site, also located within the Plemmons Student Union, would provide full handicap accessibility and 24-hour police presence.

David Robertson, director of Student Programs at ASU, testified in favor of the Linville Falls Room location. Via High Country Press:

Robertson noted that the Legends is in a flood prone area of Boone and has flooded twice already this year, cancelling two contracted events. He noted that the Student Union has never flooded in its existence since ’67.

Pertaining to voting machine security, He noted that Legends has 17 entry doors in seven locations with 16 locksets while Linville Falls Room in the student union only has two sets of double doors with four locksets.

He also mentioned that Legends is an “old dog of a building” which doesn’t have a ventilation system other than large intake fans and has no backup generator for emergency power

High Country Press – Searching for elusive ‘common ground’ on Watauga County BOE, Legends to be precinct on ASU campus

Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges also favored the Linville Falls Room, echoing Robertsons’ concerns about the possibility of flooding and the lack of backup power at Legends.

The resolution relocating ASU’s polling site passed 2-1. Read the full text of both resolutions here.

In other elections news, Montravias King’s name has officially been added to the Pasquotank County ballot:

The NC NAACP has a video recap of Montravias King’s successful appeal to the NC State Board of Elections Tuesday:

More information:

High Country Press – Watauga elections board to consider Legends polling place, backtracking on combining three Boone precincts

Watauga Democrat – Legends chosen as polling site

Winston-Salem Journal – Watauga elections board votes to restore voting precincts

Related stories:

NC elections board rules on student voting cases

State Board of Elections to consider Montravias King, Watauga County appeals

Local elections boards move to suppress student voting