By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

The Rowan County Board of Elections could act later this month on requests to offer one-stop early voting in Landis as well as the main office in Salisbury.

Last week, both the Landis and China Grove town boards unanimously approved a resolution calling for a voting place in the southern end of the county.

The resolution suggested the Frank Tadlock South Rowan Regional Library on Kimball Road.

Nancy Evans, elections director, said Tuesday that the final decision will be up to the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.

The Elections Board has previously discussed opening a second one-stop voting place for the 2008 presidential election. Possible locations include the new Sheriff’s Department satellite office in Landis or the library on Kimball Road.

The resolutions approved by the town boards appear to call for the new location as early as 2007 in the municipal elections.

Evans said the main cost will be in personnel to staff the voting site during the two- to three-week period where one-stop voting is allowed.

If the Board of Elections supports the proposal, Evans will request funding from commissioners in the 2007 budget.

Opening a new one-stop site in a municipal election year will also require advice from the N.C. Board of Elections. Would a Landis location be required to offer a ballot only for China Grove, Landis and Kannapolis municipal elections, or would the site be required to offer all 10 municipal ballots?

Currently, any town resident can vote one-stop in their town’s race at the Election Office in Salisbury.

Evans said election officials have talked for some time about offering a site South Rowan, possible at the library, and then gradually expanding to sites in eastern and western areas of the county.

Officials have also previously cited the lack of space in the Elections Office as well as the lack of readily available parking.