Cumberland County Board of Elections Tests Voting Machines: ‘No Concerns’

FAYETTTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A handful of residents packed a room at the Cumberland County Board of Elections to look at voting machines that will be used in the 2024 general election.

County Board of Elections officials told ABC11 there are 90 machines in use across the county’s 77 voting precincts.

“We test every single ballot, style and issue for accuracy,” said Bill Helms, IT director for the Board of Elections.

Monday’s tests appeared to go well.

“No worries,” Helms said. “Everything went smoothly. Everything worked out. The results were as expected.”

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The county’s process is aimed at increasing voter confidence. Helms called the process in Cumberland County “transparent.”

“In any presidential election, there are always people watching, just because it is the nature of the president, and more people seem to be watching,” Helms said. “The fact is, anyone can walk in at any time and say, ‘Hey, I want to see you live on the machines. And we let them back in to do that.”

Election Day staffing is a problem in some parts of the state, particularly in areas hit by Hurricane Helene, where one of those challenges is ensuring there are enough poll workers on Nov. 5.

Cumberland County is well populated ahead of the election, Helms said.

“We have poll workers lined up. Some of them will drop out periodically before the election, but that is expected and planned,” Helms said. “We already know that, and we already have people in reserve to take their place.”

Early voting begins Thursday.

“We run every election exactly the same,” Helms said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a presidential election, it’s going to be exactly the same.”