BY MILES LAYTON
EDENTON — Chowan County Elections Director Kristi Nixon was invited to give a comprehensive overview of election operations to the Chowan County Republican Party during the group’s meeting Thursday, detailing everything from voter roll maintenance and photo ID laws to provisional ballots and upcoming staff changes.
“Kristi is doing an outstanding job, and I think of course, the Board of Elections too,” said Bob Kirby, Vice Chairman of the Chowan County’s GOP, also a county Commissioner. “Overall, the county pays the money and it (Board of Elections) is a very well run organization. We try to be lean and mean, but the Board of Elections might be just a little bit too lean, so we’re gonna beef it up just a little bit (provide funding for a new staffer) so that Kristi can take a day or two off without, you know, being concerned about who’s going to man it up. And so I just came, as a member of the Board of Commissioners, to say thank you, Kristi, for what you do for us, it is truly a blessing, guys. Look in the newspaper, what’s going on in other counties elections boards — ours is rock solid and moving in the right direction.”
Nixon’s remarks offered a behind-the-scenes look at the immense logistical and legal effort that powers the county’s elections.
Chowan County currently has 9,845 registered voters, with the number typically hovering near 10,000. For the upcoming municipal election in November, 3,316 voters are eligible, casting ballots at two precincts. But Nixon emphasized that her office is busy year-round—even when elections aren’t top of mind.
“We don’t have non-election years anymore,” Nixon said. “There’s always something coming up—and always work to be done.”
Year-Round Maintenance
Much of that work involves “list maintenance”—ensuring that voter rolls are accurate and current. Nixon explained that her team now performs this work weekly, a shift prompted by recent legislative changes. Previously, these checks were only required monthly.
Each week, the Board of Elections reviews lists of local deaths, possible duplicate registrations, and felony convictions. Staffer Sue Campbell, a part-time employee, focuses solely on this task. Voters who are deceased, convicted of a felony, or have registered twice are flagged and, if appropriate, removed from the rolls.
Felons are removed immediately, Nixon said, though they can have their voting rights restored after completing their sentence, including probation or parole. One recent example in Chowan County involved a candidate for public office.
“That person had served their time and submitted all the necessary documentation to us,” Nixon said. “Her voting rights were restored, and she has legally voted in prior elections.”
Another statewide report, known as a “Possible Match” list, flags voters who may have moved across county lines, helping election staff prevent individuals from remaining registered in multiple counties.
Registration Confirmation
When voters register or update their information—such as address or party affiliation—a confirmation card is mailed. Nixon said many cards are returned due to incorrect addresses. If returned, her office sends a second verification card that must be acknowledged by the voter.
The office also conducts biannual address updates using data from the U.S. Postal Service. When legislative district boundaries shift, mass mailings inform affected voters of their new voting district. Nixon recalled that during one past redistricting, over 2,000 notifications were mailed.
Responding to a Contested Race
Nixon described the lasting impact of a contested judicial race in 2024, where questions about the validity of voter registration data led to a recount and legal battle. The issue? Some voters lacked a driver’s license or Social Security number on file—information now required under state law.
Though the court ultimately ruled those votes were valid, the case spurred a statewide “registration repair” initiative. Nixon’s office is now working through thousands of records to correct missing data. Some omissions stem from registrations filed before 2004 or prior to the digitization of county records. Others may be due to clerical oversight.
The State Board of Elections will begin mailing correction letters to affected voters on August 1. Two more rounds will follow. Voters can respond by mail, visit the elections office, go online via the DMV, or bring documentation in person.
“If the records aren’t corrected by election day, those voters will have to vote provisionally,” Nixon said.
Provisional Ballots: Time-Intensive but Critical
Provisional ballots allow voters with unresolved registration issues to cast a ballot. In 2024, Chowan County processed 54 such votes.
“It’s not a big deal for the voter—it just takes a little more time,” Nixon said. “But it takes a lot more time for us.” Her office must verify every piece of information before the ballot can be counted.
Provisional votes must be reviewed and finalized by the canvass deadline. Thanks to a legal change, the Board now has only three days to complete that work.
One challenge: current election software doesn’t allow staff to update certain voter details—such as a missing ID number—during the election. A software upgrade scheduled for the upcoming weekend is expected to fix that.
Voter Competency and Guardianship
A question from the audience raised concerns about individuals declared legally incompetent. Nixon confirmed that people ruled incompetent by a court are ineligible to vote. However, she said her office rarely receives such notifications directly from the courts. If a legal guardian provides documentation, a voter’s registration can be deactivated.
“You can’t just say, ‘I don’t think that person should be voting,’” Nixon said. “We need legal proof.”
She also warned about illegal behavior in some facilities, where outsiders have attempted to register individuals without proper oversight.
“If someone is voting on behalf of another person, that’s illegal,” she said. “You can assist someone, but not vote for them.”
Photo ID Now Required
North Carolina now requires all voters to present an approved photo ID. Though passed in 2016, the law went through several court challenges before being fully enforced in 2023.
Acceptable IDs include driver’s licenses, state-issued IDs, and certain student IDs. For those without one, the Board of Elections offers free voter-only photo IDs. Nixon said few people request them, as most voters already have a valid ID.
Each ID issued by the elections office is clearly marked: “For Voting Only.” Nixon acknowledged that some people attempt to use them as general ID, but the cards are not valid for other purposes.
Staffing and Future Elections
Currently, Nixon is the only full-time staff member in the office. With the help of two part-time employees and support from Chowan County’s IT department, she manages everything from registration to machine maintenance.
That’s about to change. The office recently received approval to hire another full-time employee, a move Nixon said was long overdue. “We’re giving up two part-time roles to make room for this one full-time position,” she said.
The new job will be posted soon on the county’s website and other platforms, including local newspapers and social media. Once hired, the new employee will be trained ahead of the March 2026 primary.
“Filing for that election begins in December,” Nixon said. “As soon as we finish one, we’re already gearing up for the next.”
Through it all, Nixon’s message was clear: Chowan County elections aren’t just secure—they’re constantly being refined and reinforced by diligent, transparent work. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure the process is accurate, legal, and fair,” she said.
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