Catawba County News
Catawba County 101
Published: July 31, 2026
MAKING. LIVING. BETTER: Board of Elections
Briefly describe the area you are spotlighting. What is its mission/purpose?
The Catawba County Board of Elections is dedicated to conducting fair, honest and impartial elections, ensuring every eligible citizen can exercise their constitutional right to vote with confidence.
How do you achieve your mission – what services are offered?
Working in partnership with the North Carolina State Board of Elections, our office administers all local, state and federal elections and oversees every aspect of the process.
Who does this department/service area/program serve?
The Catawba County Board of Elections proudly serves all eligible voters in Catawba County by providing accessible, transparent, and reliable election services.
How and where are services delivered?
During election periods, our office:
- Operates up to five Early Voting locations for 17 days
- Opens 40 Election Day precincts throughout the county
- Processes absentee-by-mail ballots (this process begins 60 days prior to election day)
- Recruits and trains poll workers to ensure efficient voting operations
Year-round, our office:
- Registers new voters and updates current voter records
- Issues Voter Identification Cards upon request
- Maintains accurate voter registration records and precinct mapping databases
- Removes ineligible registrations as required by law
- Assists in candidate filing
- Audits Campaign Finance Reports
- Maintains voting equipment and election supplies
How many staff members are involved in delivering services?
The Catawba County Board of Elections is governed by a five-member board which oversees the functions of the office. This board chooses the director of the county board who is appointed by the North Carolina State Board of Elections to oversee the daily operations, tasks and duties of the office. During an election cycle, additional temporary staff are hired, and approximately 400 election officials are recruited to staff 40 polling locations and five Early Voting sites across the county.
How does our community and/or organization benefit from these services?
Our Office protects the integrity of the democratic process by ensuring elections are conducted fairly, securely, and efficiently. By providing every eligible voter with the opportunity to participate, we strengthen our community and uphold public trust in every local, state and federal election.
Please share anything unique or interesting about this program you would want people to know.
Catawba County Employees make outstanding poll workers, but anyone who meets qualifications is encouraged to serve! Poll workers are assigned to precincts, receive comprehensive training, and work from approximately 6:00am–8:00pm on Election Day. These workers will receive fixed compensation for their services.
Our office also recruits Early Voting workers for morning, afternoon, lunchtime, and weekend shifts. Weekend shifts, which include Saturdays and Sundays, are especially popular and are paid hourly. All election workers are required to complete Early Voting/Precinct training before serving.