Low pay is driving the rapid loss of experienced NC county elections directors. What makes the situation challenging, and what policy changes could fix the problem.
The rapid loss of North Carolina county elections directors has raised concerns about the inability of some counties to hire and retain qualified and experienced directors, which could interfere with their conduct of smooth and orderly elections. Carolina Public Press obtained data from North Carolina counties showing how much they paid elections directors and how long the current director has been on the job. Counties with highest pay tended to keep directors longer while those with lowest pay tended to have more recent turnover. The state statute governing elections director pay hasn’t been changed in 25 years. While some counties have increased pay, others are starved for resources. Measures by other states may point to ways forward in North Carolina. Some legislators and political thinkers see revision of the antiquated statute and partial state subsidies for county elections worker pay as potential solutions but so far the General Assembly hasn’t had the political will to make such changes.
Elections Brain Drain is a three-part investigative series from Carolina Public Press, being published daily beginning June 10, 2024. The series has been made possible in part through the Elias Foundation’s funding for the Shaklan Investigative Reporting Fellowship at CPP, and through the support of readers like you.
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Rapid loss of NC elections directors tied to low pay, CPP investigation finds
NC counties with low pay for elections directors most likely to have someone with less experience in charge, CPP data analysis shows.
High turnover among NC elections directors linked to 25-year-old ‘vague’ statute
Turnover of county elections directors tied to “antiquated” law setting minimum pay, for which even small counties must foot the bill.
Changes to minimum pay, supplemental funding could help NC counties retain elections directors
Legislative agreement and action needed to fix problems with pay levels contributing to high turnover of NC county elections directors.
This map shows the pay levels for elections directors in North Carolina counties. The annual rate for Hyde County is an estimate based on an hourly rate and a theoretical 20 hours per week. The darkest green are the highest paid. Scroll over each county for additional information. Data on pay rates and tenure was provided by the counties in response to a spring 2024 Carolina Public Press public records request. Gray counties did not provide this information. Population figures are the most recent estimates available from the State Demographer.
Graphic by Mariano Santillan / Carolina Public Press
This bar graph compares the pay levels of elections directors in North Carolina counties. The annual rate for Hyde County is an estimate based on an hourly rate and a theoretical 20 hours per week. Scroll over each county for additional information. The data was provided by each county in response to a spring 2024 public records request from Carolina Public Press. The counties that are not included did not provide information.
Graphic by Mariano Santillan / Carolina Public Press
Contributors
This series is produced by the news team of Carolina Public Press
Reporting by Mehr Sher
Photos by Calvin Adkins, Mark Darrough, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Colby Rabon, Mehr Sher and Frank Taylor
Illustration by Mariano Santillan
Infographics by Mariano Santillan
Editing by Frank Taylor
