Public restrooms were one of the main topics at the Anson County Board of Elections’ Feb. 9 meeting.
Board member Tracy Little said he’s concerned that the lack of public restrooms causes issues for voters standing in line before they cast their vote.
Chairwoman Rochelle Williams said public restrooms create privacy and cleanliness concerns. When the board tried it last time, people were in and out of the voting enclosure and the bathroom was filthy, she said.
Visitors would go into the voting enclosure and chat with poll workers, and those who were not there to vote, including children and campaigners, were there despite state law mandating that only those there to vote can be in the voting area, Williams said. She did add that although public restrooms were not available, the board did allow voters with emergency cases in.
Little said he knew of a voter who was not allowed to use the restroom, and argued that it is impossible for elections workers to properly discern what qualifies as an emergency case.
“We’re not against people using it, we just don’t want it willy-nilly like a revolving door,” board member Tracy Baynard said. “If people have emergencies, we understand that.”
After some discussion, the board compromised and agreed to designate one of the restrooms for voters who need it, though it will not technically be a public restroom, as only those who vote will be able to use it. Others, whether joggers going by the office or campaigners out front, will not be allowed in since the restroom is in the voting enclosure and only voters will be admitted.
“It’s not that we don’t want them to use it, it’s just that No. 1, it’s illegal, and No. 2, it gets out of hand,” Williams said. She also said poll workers will be reminded to not carry on conversations with those who come by the voting area.
The board will also ask campaigners to wear name tags to help elections officials distinguish them from voters and to make it easier to find them quickly if they need to provide them with information.
During the meeting, the board approved the list of poll workers with the exception of a lack of a Republican assistant at one location. The board will try to fill that position and has sent letters to approved poll workers to have them sign up for training. Those who did not respond to the first letter received a follow-up notice.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.