The Anson County Board of Elections met Oct. 2 to discuss the upcoming election details and to provide an update on its efforts to fill the position of part-time administrative assistant to the interim director.

With a total of 17 applications in, and a top-four recommendation from interim director Steve Adams and County Manager Lawrence Gatewood, the board needed to make a decision, but board member Judy Little offered further input for the board’s consideration. Little said that the board shouldn’t let Adams do its job; when Adams responded that he was only doing what the board requested, Little agreed, but said that the responsibility should be the board’s rather than delegating it.

Further debate on the issue included the question of whether or not to hire Geneva Timmons, who has held a position since 2008, or to look at other applicants. The board eventually decided to hire Timmons for the position after a 2-1 vote but maintained that there will probably be a need for a similar second position. Paxton voted against Little and secretary Helen Lail, not out of personal objection to Timmons but out of a desire to look at other applicants. Paxton’s concern at the idea of two part-time positions was that, working part-time, they’d leave unfinished projects for the other to try to pick up. Adams suggested that the workers could split up the tasks, i.e., one working on absentee ballots and another doing registration.

Adams also reported progress in preparations for the elections. So far, 75 absentee ballots have been received and processed, and 38 of the original 57 deceased voters have been removed from the voter rolls. Adams sent 17 letters to families of the deceased voters asking for confirmation of their death in order to remove them from the voter rolls; out of the 17, three have been returned to Adams with confirmation of the deaths. If the remaining 14 aren’t returned in time for the election, Adams will notify the poll workers of the names. Additionally, two felons have been removed from the rolls, and one competed his sentence, according to Adams. Adams said he will keep a log with the assistant to make sure they’re accountable to each other and know what each has completed.

The poll worker list for election day was compiled by Adams and Anson County party chairs Vancine Sturdivant (D) and Donna Wells (R), Adams said. He asked the board to approve the list so that they could send letters out and get the workers trained. The letters will confirm that the workers can work; otherwise, emergency workers will be notified. The board approved the list unanimously.

Following the other topics, Lail read the minutes, numbering 17 pages in length, from the Aug. 19 emergency meeting but at the board’s suggestion skipped the audience comments and read only the parts pertinent to the board’s decision, including the actual vote. The board unanimously approved the minutes and the meeting adjourned.