CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With millions of North Carolinians casting their ballots early in the 2024 election, questions have been raised about the security of ballots after ballot boxes were burned in Oregon and Washington.
For Mecklenburg County Board of Elections Director Michael Dickerson, security is the top priority.
"We keep a tightrope on all of that ballot security," Dickerson told WCNC Charlotte on Tuesday.
That includes the polls and mail-in ballots, according to Dickerson.
"Everything we do is about the security of the ballot," Dickerson added. "Not only of the paper ballot itself but the secrecy of your vote."
The multi-step process is all about protecting ballots and maintaining confidence in the system.
"Once you're done voting, that ballot comes in and we have various mediums that we keep it on," Dickerson said. "A thumb drive to keep the results on, we have the paper copy here to have a copy of your ballot. So all that's extremely important for us, so much that we've added card readers for security entrance to certain areas of this facility so that nobody can come in and out."
Former Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts is a consultant with the Carter Center and stresses that North Carolina is one of the best places when it comes to election security.
"They are bipartisan. Everything that is contested is looked at by a Republican and a Democrat," Roberts said. "That's what makes our system so great."
North Carolina's early voting period runs until Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 5.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.