As Chair of the Rowan County Democratic Party, I want to share the news that Kenneth Stutts has been appointed to the Rowan County Board of Elections as of September 6th. Kenneth will fill the seat that was left vacant with the passing of George W. Benson. This is a vital position in our county and for our elections system. We are fortunate to have Kenneth’s legal expertise and commitment to small “d” democratic values for all residents. Kenneth is a Rowan County native and returned to NC to practice law after a decade working abroad for the US government. 

Kenneth will join fellow Democrats, Catrelia S. Hunter and Board Chair John Hudson, as well as the two Republicans, Loutricia W. Cain and Dave Collins in the important job of maintaining safe, fair, and free elections All county board members in NC take an important oath to affirm they will “…support the Constitution of the United States; that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof; that I will endeavor to support, maintain and defend the Constitution of said State, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States; and that I will well and truly execute the duties of the office of member of the Rowan County Board of Elections to the best of my knowledge and ability, according to law; so help me God.”

From Kenneth: “I look forward to continuing my work with the staff and fellow board members in this new role in order to ensure the integrity of the voting process here in Rowan County.”

Additional information about your Board of Elections and their duties follow.  From https://www.ncsbe.gov/about-elections/county-boards-elections

North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections conduct local elections, operate voting sites, maintain voter registration lists and handle many other aspects of elections administration. The State Board works with county boards of elections offices to ensure elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.

Among other duties, county boards:

• Make and issue rules, regulations, and instructions necessary for the guidance of election officers and voters.
• Appoint chief judges, judges, assistants, and other elections officials, and determine where they will serve. The county board also removes officials if the need arises.
• Investigate irregularities, nonperformance of duties, and violations of laws by election officers and other persons, and report violations to the State Board. 
• Contract for the printing of ballots and other supplies used in registration and elections; and provide for the delivery of ballots, pollbooks, and other required papers and materials to voting places.
• Buy and maintain voting booths, ballot boxes, registration and pollbooks, maps, flags, cards of instruction, and other forms, papers, and equipment used in elections.
• Count absentee and provisional ballots and other official ballots required to be counted. 
• Certify results in all ballot items on the official ballot in the county.
• Order a recount in any ballot item where necessary to complete the canvass.
• Conduct any recount ordered by the county board or State Board.
• Conduct hearings on election protests.

For more on the duties of county boards of elections, please refer to N.C.G.S. § 163-33, N.C.G.S. § 163-182.17(c) and N.C.G.S. § 163-166.1