Voting extended until 8 p.m. at Holloway Recreation Center after printer problems

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to extend voting until 8 p.m. at Lenoir County’s K8 precinct at Holloway Recreation Center after printer problems delayed voting for about 45 minutes.

The extension applies only to that precinct, located at 100 N. Myrtle Ave. in Kinston.

During the board’s 2 p.m. emergency meeting, officials reported that backup labels were available at the polling site but were not used.

Initial information indicated that two voters had left without voting. Lenoir County Elections Director Kristie Smith clarified that one of those people had already registered and voted during early voting Friday.

The other voter left because she needed to get to work, Smith said.

“But the one that did leave, she had to leave because she had to be at work and said that she would be back after she got off work,” Smith said.

Smith said she believed the voter worked in Greenville and estimated travel time between Lenoir and Pitt counties at about 30 minutes.

“We do have her name,” Smith said. “And I have contacted her, but she has not called back.”

Asked how long the polling site’s opening was delayed, Smith said, “It was about 45 minutes.”

The board approved an additional 30 minutes of voting at the precinct, extending its scheduled 7:30 p.m. closing time to 8 p.m.

Voters already in line at 7:30 p.m. will vote regular ballots. Those arriving after 7:30 p.m. during the extended period will be directed to vote provisional ballots.