The Pasquotank County elections board in North Carolina is facing significant changes as both its Deputy Director Troy White and Director Emma Tate have submitted resignations. White’s resignation will become effective on Aug. 16, coinciding with Tate’s departure, which was already announced last month. Tate, who has been the permanent director since early 2020, cited various reasons for her decision to step down.
White did not provide specific details about his resignation during a recent board meeting confirming his departure. This shift in leadership highlights a broader issue of turnover among local election officials, not just in North Carolina but also in other states, especially in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
With about 31,000 registered voters in Pasquotank County, preparations for the upcoming election are underway. In-person early voting for the November election is set to commence on Oct. 17, with absentee ballots being sent out starting on Sept. 6 to those who have requested them. Despite the timing of the resignations, the State Board of Elections spokesperson Patrick Gannon assured that they would assist the county in filling the vacant positions promptly.
Recent discussions between the Pasquotank County board and the state board included plans for the number of early voting sites to be operational in the county this fall. This turnover issue is not unique to Pasquotank County, as revealed by State Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, who shared concerns about staffing challenges across North Carolina’s counties during a meeting with a General Assembly elections oversight committee in April.
Brinson Bell attributed the turnover partly to a difficult working environment where election professionals have faced hostility, harassment, increased workloads, and immense pressure. While staffing shortages have historically been a problem for election offices nationwide, the situation worsened in 2020 due to the pandemic-related obstacles during the presidential election and the subsequent turmoil fueled by baseless claims of election fraud.
Additionally, various politically significant states, including Nevada, have experienced considerable turnover in top county election positions following the 2020 election, indicating a broader trend that extends beyond North Carolina. The upcoming challenge for Pasquotank County will be to swiftly fill the vacancies and ensure a smooth electoral process for its residents.