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Three proposed changes to the South Albemarle precinct that the Stanly County Board of Elections had been looking into were approved during a board meeting on Tuesday.

“The board did adopt a resolution to make the proposed changes as set out on our website,” said Stanly County Elections Director Kim Blackwelder.

The changes, which were discussed by the board during a work session last month, include splitting up the west portion of South Albemarle between Almond and Albemarle 10, moving a portion of South Albemarle into Albemarle 8 and moving another portion of the precinct into Albemarle 7. The new precinct maps can be found here. 

“The main concern of the board was the western segment of the South Albemarle precinct that wraps up and around the City of Albemarle,” Blackwelder said last month. “Those voters anywhere in the area have from a 5-7 mile drive…to the South Albemarle polling place.”

While there will always be a certain number of voters located along the edge of a precinct, “it seems like that area is just an odd placement in comparison to the rest of the precinct,” she added.

Blackwelder sent the information, including the adopted resolution, to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The changes will not be official until the NCSBOE approves them.

Residents who will be impacted will receive in the mail towards the end of the year a new voting card along with the address of their new polling place, Blackwelder said.

With no elections slated for this year, the first time residents will go to their new polling places to vote will be the statewide primary election on March 5, 2024.