Board of Elections will meet on the first Tuesday of every month beginning at 5:00pm at the Board of Elections office.
Position available: Elections Director. Please refer to Employment page for Job Description.
Contact the County Board of Elections Office for information about:
- Voter registration applications
- Registration deadlines
- Absentee voting
- One-Stop Absentee voting
- Precinct polling locations
- Challenges and complaints
- All other questions related to elections
- Group classes on how to use a voting machine
- Public information including election results, voter lists, sample ballots and other data
How to Register and Vote During One-Stop Absentee
If a North Carolina resident has missed the 25 day deadline for voter registration, he/she may register and vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting.
To vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting, a resident must fill out a voter registration application and prove residency by providing appropriate identification with current name and current address. The new registrant may vote ONLY at a One-Stop Absentee Voting Site in the county of registration during One-Stop Absentee Voting and not on Election Day.
(Unavailable at this time.)
This is the ONLY form acceptable if you vote by mail and the Swain County Board of Elections cannot accept any written requests. North Carolina Board of Elections Information
Acceptable forms of identification include:
- A utility bill with name and current address
- A North Carolina driver’s license with current address
- A telephone or mobile phone bill
- An electric or gas bill
- A cable television bill
- A water or sewage bill
A document with name and current address from a local, state, or U.S. government agency:
- A passport
- A government-issued photo ID
- U.S. military ID
- A license to hunt, fish, own a gun, etc.
- A property tax bill
- Automotive registration
- Certified documentation of naturalization
- A public housing or Social Service Agency document
- A check, invoice, or letter from a government agency
- A birth certificate
- A student photo ID along with a document from the school showing the student’s name and current address
- A paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement
- A bank statement or bank-issued credit card statement
- Proof of residence does not include any piece of mail addressed to the voter.
- If you cannot supply acceptable Proof-of-Residence, your registration form cannot be processed until the required information is provided.
General Election Schedule
For more information call the Swain County Board of Elections at 828-488-6177.
Swain County Board of Elections is located at 1422 Hwy. 19 S. Bryson City, NC 28713 Email: BOE@Swaincountync.gov
Contact - Board of Elections
- Hannah Smith, Chairman
- Mary Buranosky, Secretary
- Jim Nations, Member
- Linda Sawyer, Member
- Jeramy Shuler, Member
Board of Elections Office:
1422 US Hwy 19 South
Mailing Address: PO Box 133
Bryson City, NC 28713
Contact:
Phone: 828-488-6177
Fax: 828-488-6463
Email: BOE@Swaincountync.gov
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Monday – Friday
Swain County Commissioners
Commissioner’s Office
50 Main Street, Ste. 300
Mailing Address: PO Box 2321
Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone: 828-488-9273
Fax: 828-488-2754
Board of Commissioners
Kevin Seagle, Chairman
828-736-3265
Email: kevins@swaincountync.gov
Roger Parsons, Vice-Chair
828-736-0486
Email: Roger.parsons@swaincountync.gov
Kenneth Parton, Member
828-341-5554
Email: Kenneth.parton@swaincountync.gov
Phil Carson, Member
828-736-2783
Email: p_carson@swaincountync.gov
David Loftis, Member
828-788-6486
Email: david.loftis@swaincountync.gov
Kevin S. King – County Manager
Phone 828-488-9273 ext. 2231
Email: k_king@swaincountync.gov
Cindi C. Woodard – Clerk to the Board & Administrative Asst.
Phone 828-488-9273 ext. 2225
Email: c_woodard@swaincountync.gov
Swain County Appointment/Nomination form
Appointment Nomination Form
Send completed forms to Cindi Woodard c_woodard@swaincountync.gov before June 1, 2021. If you have any questions, you may reach her at 828-488-9273 ext. 2225.
Commissioners Meet Twice A Month
The Board of Commissioners meets on the 1st Tuesday @ 10:00 am (Work Session) and the 3rd Tuesday @ 5:30 pm (Regular Session), unless otherwise posted. Meetings are held at the Swain County Administration Building, 50 Main St. on the 3rd floor.
Meeting Change Notice
Meeting Change Notice
Requests to be placed on the Agenda
If you are interested in being placed on the agenda, you must complete an Agenda Request Form and deliver it to the County Manager’s office no later than Monday at 12 noon one week prior to the Tuesday meeting.
Request To Be Put On The Meeting Agenda
Public Comments
Public comments will be received during each meeting. For additional information on how to sign in to speak at a meeting, view the Rules and Procedures Policy, Section XII (pdf).
Swain County Board of Commissioners Rules and Procedures Policy
County Commissioners Meeting Agendas and Minutes
No openings at this time.
- Notice of Candidate Filing
- Absentee Ballot Request Form (unavailable at this time)
This is the ONLY form acceptable if you vote by mail. The Swain County Board of Elections cannot accept any written requests.
- Primary Elections:
- None at this time.
- Sample Ballots:
- None at this time.
- Election Officials:
- Precinct Officials for 2018 Election Cycle
- Register to Vote
- Precinct Polling Locations
Election Terms:
Municipal Election: An election held for towns, cities or other special districts. Only residents of these municipalities and districts are eligible to vote in these elections. These elections are held in odd-numbered years.
General Election: A General Election is defined as a partisan election in which candidates are elected. All registered voters are eligible to vote in a general election. General elections are held in even-numbered years.
General elections are held for the following offices: U.S. President / Vice President* U.S. House Of Representatives (Congress) North Carolina State House and State Senate officials County Officials (e.g., County Commissioners) Municipal Officials (e.g., mayor, council members).
School Board General elections also may include bond proposals and referendums. * Four-year general elections (based on presidential election year).
Municipal officials were elected in 1999 general elections and every two years thereafter. Registered voters may vote for candidates in either party, regardless of their declared party affiliation.
Primary Election: A Primary is defined as an election which nominates candidates to the ballot for the General Election. The nominees of each party are then placed on the ballot for general election. Primary elections are held in even numbered years prior to the general election.
A Primary Election is held to nominate a candidate to represent a political party in the General Election.
Registered voters may vote ONLY in the primary election of their declared party. If a voter is registered as “unaffiliated”, he/she may vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary election. Political Party An organization of voters which supports a political view, and is recognized by the State Board of Elections.
Non-Partisan: An election where candidates do not run as a nominee of a political party. Judicial elections are nonpartisan as well as most municipal elections.
Partisan: An election where the candidates must be a nominee of a recognized political party or otherwise qualify.
Unaffiliated: Choice to not register with a political party.
Absentee Voting: Voting by mail or One-Stop prior to Election Day.
One-Stop Voting: Voting in a time frame, in person, prior to Election Day.
Near Relative: By election law, spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, stepchild, in-law (father, mother, son or daughter).
Regulations for Posting of Political Signs
The placement of signs indicates that the candidate may be making expenditures. A candidate must file their political committee within 10 days of making expenditures or receiving contributions. So the local elections office could explore the need for a candidate for a committee to be organized if they are making expenditures.
There is no state or federal law that places a time limit of the placement of political signs prior to an election. This is a form of political speech enjoying First Amendment protection. Just like one can campaign for an office prior to filing, the right to political speech using signs does not depend on a filing date.
Some municipalities and counties have ordinances that deal with the location, dates when one may start to place signs, and when signs must be removed. However, these ordinances could face a First Amendment challenge by the candidate wishing to contest the requirements.
Also signs cannot be placed in DOT right of ways and on other certain property. Complaints as to signs in these locations should be directed to the District DOT Office or the utility company owning the poles. The local elections office has no responsibility in removing unlawfully placed signs.
If you have any questions regarding this matter you may contact Amy Strange, Campaign Finance Compliance Specialist with the NC State Board of Elections at 919-733-7173 or PO Box 27255 Raleigh, NC 27611-7255, or the Swain County Board of Elections at 828-488-6177.
